Ohio Senate Passes Bill Banning Foreign Contributions in Ohio's Elections

COLUMBUS—State Senator Michael Rulli (R-Salem) today announced the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 215, prohibiting foreign contributions to ballot issue campaigns.

Senate Bill 215 extends the current law banning foreign contributions to candidates running for office, eliminating the loophole for ballot issue campaigns. The bill creates a new category called alternative political organizations for entities that are not currently required to file detailed campaign finance reports. These new organizations must file contributions if they receive foreign dollars and separate those funds to ensure foreign money is not used towards Ohio candidates and ballot issues. Senate 215 also includes enforcement mechanisms for these organizations.

"This issue is not a partisan one. In fact, it impacts all Ohioans and our state constitution," Rulli said. "This bill provides safeguards for Ohio's elections and keeps them free of foreign influence." 

Nearly 80% of voters favor a ban on foreign individuals and entities funding ballot initiatives, and the support for such a ban is strong among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Multiple states have similar laws already in place or legislation pending to prohibit foreign contributions to these campaigns. Bipartisan legislation has also been introduced in U.S. Congress to prohibit these contributions in state and local ballot initiatives.

Senate Bill 215 will now go to the Ohio House of Representatives. Learn more about the legislation from Senator Gavarone's column in On the Record and on the President's Podcast.