AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 and Title 3, relative to elections.
Summary
SB1047 would restrict Tennessee election-related funding and support from foreign-based organizations, and from U.S.-based organizations that receive funding from entities based in other countries. The bill prohibits such organizations from making contributions to candidates or political campaign committees, including in-kind contributions. It also bars them from providing campaign promotion, paying campaign workers, or training campaign or election staff.
The bill further amends Tennessee law governing legislative and election administration funding approvals. It would prevent the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House from approving acceptance of such funding for legislative purposes, and it would similarly prohibit the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s designee from approving that funding. In effect, the measure creates a broad restriction on foreign-influenced money entering Tennessee election and related governmental funding channels.
Impact
If enacted, SB1047 would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 2 by adding new restrictions on political contributions and election support from foreign-based entities and from U.S. entities with foreign funding sources. It would also modify existing provisions governing approval of outside funding for the General Assembly and the Secretary of State’s office, limiting who may authorize acceptance of such funds. The practical effect would be to narrow the pool of organizations eligible to contribute to campaigns or provide election-related services, and to impose new compliance checks on state officials overseeing funding approvals.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill faced opposition in committee and did not advance, failing in the Senate State and Local Government Committee by a 4-5 vote. With no committee transcript available, there is no detailed discussion record, but the vote outcome indicates the proposal was controversial enough to lose support among committee members. The bill’s subject matter suggests concern about foreign influence in elections, but the committee result shows that concern was not enough to secure passage.
Contention
The main point of contention is the breadth of the foreign-funding prohibition. Supporters likely viewed the bill as a safeguard against foreign influence in Tennessee elections, while opponents may have been concerned that the language could sweep in domestic organizations with indirect foreign funding, potentially affecting nonprofits, advocacy groups, and campaign service providers. The bill also places approval limits on the Speaker of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of State, which may have raised questions about implementation, scope, and whether the restrictions were too expansive or difficult to administer.