An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation by Foreign Nationals To Influence Referenda
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0641
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: RISEMAN
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1064

Legislative Document
No. 641
H.P. 472
House of Representatives, March 3, 2021
An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation 
by Foreign Nationals To Influence Referenda
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 1, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RISEMAN of Harrison.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to apply in the current election cycle; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA §1064 is enacted to read:
§1064.  Contributions, expenditures and participation by foreign nationals prohibited
1.  Definition.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "foreign 
national" means:
A.  An individual who is not a citizen of the United States; or
B.  A foreign entity, including a government, organization or business that holds, owns 
or otherwise has direct or indirect majority control of a foreign entity.
2.  Contribution prohibited.  A foreign national may not make, directly or indirectly, 
a contribution of money or anything of value to influence a referendum.
3.  Solicitation or acceptance of contribution prohibited.  A person may not solicit, 
accept or receive a contribution described in subsection 2 from a foreign national.
4.  Expenditure prohibited.  A foreign national may not make, directly or indirectly, 
an expenditure to influence a referendum.
5.  Participation prohibited.  A foreign national may not direct, dictate, control or 
directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making process of any person with regard 
to that person's activities to influence a referendum, such as decisions concerning the 
making of contributions or expenditures to influence a referendum.
6.  Violation; penalty.  Notwithstanding section 1004, subsection 1, a person that 
violates this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $100,000 
or twice the amount of the contribution or expenditure involved in the violation, whichever 
is greater, may be adjudged.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a foreign national may not:
1.  Make, directly or indirectly, a contribution of money or anything of value to 
influence a referendum;
2.  Make, directly or indirectly, an expenditure to influence a referendum; or
3.  Direct, dictate, control or directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making 
process of any person with regard to that person's activities to influence a referendum, such 
as decisions concerning the making of contributions or expenditures to influence a 
referendum.
The bill also provides that a person may not solicit, accept or receive a contribution to 
influence a referendum from a foreign national.