Senate Bill 109, a proposed constitutional amendment to bar foreign funding of candidates and ballot measures, was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 23, 2025.

Senator Seba, sponsor of the measure, said the amendment aims to protect the integrity of elections. Nancy Landry, Secretary of State, framed the proposal as a voter‑protection measure and cited recent national examples of large foreign donations routed to U.S. nonprofits that then funded state ballot activity. "This is a common sense [measure] that we should want to prevent foreign interference in our elections and our campaigns," Landry said, noting a University of Maryland poll showing broad bipartisan support for banning foreign spending on ballot measures.

Jason Snead of the Honest Elections Project testified in support, citing a gap in federal law that makes ballot measures vulnerable to foreign funding. Snead identified the 16.30 Fund and described how foreign funding has been used to influence state ballot activity in several states; he urged prompt action to prevent similar influence in Louisiana.

Committee members asked whether the amendment’s language—referring to "noncitizen(s)"—might unintentionally affect legally present noncitizen residents, volunteers or other civic participants. Landry and other proponents said the statutory companion bill under consideration in the House would provide implementation details, penalties and clarify that the onus to return or refund contributions would fall on the recipient once actual notice is received. Sponsors and proponents characterized the amendment as targeting contributions of funds, goods or monetized services from foreign nationals, not ordinary volunteer activity.

Supporters from advocacy groups including Heritage Action also testified in favor. Senators asked staff to review constitutional language and the statutory companion to ensure precise framing of "noncitizen" versus "not a citizen of the United States." The committee moved SB 109 forward on a motion to report favorably as amended; the transcript shows the motion carried without objection.