Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen urged state lawmakers Wednesday to advance legislation aimed at preventing foreign money from influencing ballot initiatives. Testifying before the Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, Evnen said that while Nebraska law already bars foreign nationals from directly contributing to petition drives, existing safeguards have not gone far enough. He noted that more than five million dollars from foreign-linked sources has flowed into Nebraska ballot campaigns since 2022, despite previous efforts to curb that activity.
The proposal, known as LB927 and introduced by Bob Andersen, would require ballot question committees to certify that they have not accepted funds from foreign nationals, either directly or indirectly. Campaigns would also need to confirm that contributors had not received more than one hundred thousand dollars from foreign sources within the previous four years. Evnen described the added requirements as “deep certifications” designed to prevent money laundering and hidden foreign influence in Nebraska’s initiative and referendum process. Violations could result in fines equal to the amount of the illegal contribution or up to one hundred thousand dollars, whichever is greater.
The bill follows a lawsuit filed last fall by Attorney General Mike Hilgers against Swiss-born billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, alleging that millions of dollars were funneled through nonprofit organizations to support progressive ballot measures in Nebraska and other states. That case remains pending. A deputy solicitor general told lawmakers there is no evidence Nebraska ballot committees knowingly accepted foreign money in 2024, but said the bill would ensure campaigns cannot ignore their responsibility to verify funding sources going forward.
Supporters of the measure, including representatives from Honest Elections Project Action and Americans for Public Trust, said the legislation would close loopholes and strengthen public confidence in elections. However, concerns were raised by Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh, who questioned whether the same standards should apply to multinational corporations that earn revenue overseas. Additional testimony from Common Cause Nebraska warned the bill could be difficult to enforce and might unintentionally restrict some lawful donors. The committee took no immediate action on the proposal following the hearing.
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