2026 Legislative Session Dates
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Key Takeaways:

  • At the end of each year, our policy analysts share insights on the issues that have been at the forefront of state legislatures throughout the year. Here are the big developments and high-level trends we saw in 2025 in the election policy space, plus what you can expect in 2026.
  • In 2025, five states enacted new state foreign campaign contribution laws, while ten others advanced similar bills, reflecting growing legislative interest in limiting foreign influence on elections.
  • Recent state legislation, including Arkansas HB 1800, Indiana HB 1467, Kentucky HB 45, Montana HB 818, Tennessee HB 888, and California AB 953, targets foreign national political donations and expands state ballot measure restrictions.
  • Looking ahead to 2026, more states are expected to consider foreign influence election legislation, with Arizona and New York likely to revisit bills that advanced in 2025.
  • Legal challenges remain a concern, as seen in Maine, where a federal court blocked a broad restriction on foreign-controlled entities, highlighting the need for careful drafting of state foreign campaign contribution laws.


At the end of each year, our policy analysts share insights on the issues that have been at the forefront of state legislatures throughout the session during their review of thousands of bills across all 50 states. Here are the big developments and high-level trends we saw last year in the election policy space, plus what you can expect in 2026. 

In recent years, bills seeking to limit the influence of foreign corporations, individuals, and nonprofits on elections have proliferated. Legislation primarily limits or prohibits political donations and ballot measure activity by foreign entities. 


2025 State Legislative Actions on Foreign Election Influence

In 2025, five states enacted laws limiting political activity by foreign actors, with an additional ten states moving a bill through at least one house, and four states introducing bills that didn’t progress further.

States That Enacted New Foreign Influence Restrictions

Arkansas legislators passed HB 1800, which requires foreign-supported political organizations to register with the Ethics Commission and provide information about their spending beginning in 2026. Legislators in Indiana passed HB 1467, which will prohibit foreign nationals from spending in connection with "public questions," including ballot measures and constitutional amendments. 


Kentucky enacted HB 45, which prohibits foreign nationals from making donations to election committees and ballot measures. Legislators in Montana passed HB 818, which expands the definition of foreign national and prohibits them from spending or participating in ballot measure campaigns. Tennessee enacted HB 888, which requires political campaigns to obtain affirmations from donors that they are not foreign nationals. Finally, California policymakers approved AB 953, which will prohibit foreign nationals and foreign principals from contributing to ballot measures and political campaigns. 


Future Trends and Legal Challenges for Foreign Campaign Restrictions

We expect more states to limit foreign campaign contributions in 2026. Several states, including larger states such as Arizona and New York, had bills pass at least one chamber in 2025 and sponsors are likely to attempt again in 2026. Nevada's legislature passed SB 414, which would have prohibited foreign nationals from donating to inaugural or transition committees, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). As this bill also included a provision requiring candidates to disclose their stock holdings, it is possible that the bill will return in some form in Nevada's next session in 2027.

Court Challenges Threatening Restrictive Legislation

While these bills remain popular, it is important to note that there are potential legal challenges ahead. Maine voters passed Question 2 in 2023, which prohibited entities with at least 5% foreign government control from spending money in state elections. In August, the initiative was blocked by a federal appeals court, with Judge Lara Montecalvo noting that the prohibition was overly broad, limiting the rights of entities not materially controlled by foreign governments. Restrictions that are too expansive for those who are defined as foreign persons may face similar legal challenges.


Tracking State Election Legislation 

MultiState’s team is actively identifying and tracking election policy issues so that businesses and organizations have the information they need to navigate and effectively engage. If your organization would like to further track these or other related issues, please contact us.