S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7852
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SLATER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to prohibited contrib-
utions by hostile foreign nations in connection with a state or local
election
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 14-100 of the election law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 18 to read as follows:
18. "HOSTILE FOREIGN NATION" MEANS THE NATION OF RUSSIA, CHINA, IRAN,
OR NORTH KOREA, ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OF ANY SUCH NATION OR SUBDIVI-
SION THEREOF, OR ANY PARTY, ORGANIZATION, GROUP, OR OTHER ENTITY WITH
OPERATIONAL TIES TO ANY SUCH NATION.
§ 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-116-a to
read as follows:
§ 14-116-A. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS BY HOSTILE FOREIGN NATIONS. 1.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, IT SHALL BE UNLAW-
FUL FOR A HOSTILE FOREIGN NATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO MAKE A
CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION OF MONEY OR OTHER THING OF VALUE, OR TO MAKE AN
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION, IN
CONNECTION WITH A STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION.
2. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A HOSTILE FOREIGN NATION, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION TO A CONSTITUTED COMMIT-
TEE, INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE, POLITICAL COMMITTEE, OR PARTY
COMMITTEE.
3. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A HOSTILE FOREIGN NATION, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, TO MAKE AN EXPENDITURE, INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE, OR
DISBURSEMENT FOR A POLITICAL COMMUNICATION.
4. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY SOLICIT, ACCEPT, OR
RECEIVE A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO OR
THREE OF THIS SECTION FROM A HOSTILE FOREIGN NATION.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05115-01-5
A. 7852 2
5. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON WHO RECEIVES A CONTRIBUTION OR
DONATION FROM A HOSTILE FOREIGN NATION TO USE SUCH CONTRIBUTION OR
DONATION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FOR ANY OF THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN
SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF THIS SECTION, OR TO CONTRIBUTE,
DONATE, TRANSFER, OR CONVEY FUNDS FROM SUCH A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION
TO ANOTHER PERSON FOR USE FOR ANY OF THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVI-
SION ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF THIS SECTION.
6. ANY PERSON FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A
CLASS A FELONY AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY EQUAL TO THE
CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION AMOUNT PLUS A FINE OF UP TO TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS, TO BE RECOVERABLE IN A SPECIAL PROCEEDING OR CIVIL ACTION TO BE
BROUGHT BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS CHIEF ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.