MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday that prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to political parties or campaigns.
Similar to the 2025 law, State Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville) said the Fair Campaign Practices Act, HB214, would mirror the current federal law on foreign donations, making it a state-prosecutable crime.
"Elections should be decided by the people who live, work, and raise their families in this state – not by foreign entities with ulterior financial or political motives," said Lomax in a statement. "A 2024 report found that a single foreign billionaire spent close to $100 million on state ballot campaigns to push an agenda across the country. This is beyond alarming, and I am proud to have passed legislation that slams the door shut on international dark-money groups seeking to bring their views to our great state."
The bill passed again, 94-0, without dissent, but not without heated debate with House Democrats.
"Who been taking money from foreign entity [sic]?" State Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham) said, asking Lomax why he brought the bill.
Though he knew of no one in Alabama who had been suspected or charged with taking foreign dollars, Lomax said it had happened in other states and argued that the bill was a preventative measure.
"If you don't have a problem, what are you correcting?" Moore responded, after saying U.S. President Donald Trump "takes a lot" of foreign donations.
"At the federal level, we got a lot of people dealing with Saudi Arabia monies and monies coming from a lot of questionable places that they're taking," she added. "[W]hen we passed the charter school bill, it says in there they can take monies from any foreign country or foreign entity. So, we've been taking money from foreign people for a long time, some of us. Since we don't have that problem in the state of Alabama, I don't know why we're correcting if or passing this bill."
"It sounds like you have an issue with it," Lomax responded.
State Rep. Prince Chesnut (D-Selma) asked for more clarity on the definition of a foreign national.
"As long as you are a lawful resident or citizen, you wouldn't fall under this at all," Lomax responded.
"So I couldn't get a contribution from Zohran Mamdani?" Chesnut asked, referring to the recently elected socialist mayor of New York City.
"As long as you are not willfully and knowingly accepting a contribution [of a foreign national]," Lomax said. "It's not becoming on you to have to provide his citizenship."
State Rep. Rick Rehm (R-Dothan) briefly took to the floor to support Lomax and the bill.
"I have lived in my house for 26 years and not once have I been broken into. But every day I lock the door," he said. "It's called being proactive. This is a good bill."
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