Ban Foreign Influence Act

A bill to prohibit foreign government, foreign-national, and foreign-controlled interference in Michigan elections, policy, education, and critical economic assets; to ban foreign donations to campaigns, ballot initiatives, and policy-influencing organizations; to require full disclosure and registration of foreign agents; to prohibit foreign ownership of farmland, critical infrastructure, and sensitive assets; to create a Michigan Committee on Foreign Investment; to establish a Foreign Interference Task Force; to impose severe penalties and asset forfeiture; and to restore Michigan sovereignty on a strictly nationality-neutral basis.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Section 1. Short Title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Michigan Sovereignty and Foreign Influence Prohibition Act.”

Section 2. Legislative Findings.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) No foreign government, foreign state-owned entity, foreign national, or entity under substantial foreign control has the right to interfere in Michigan’s elections, public policy, education system, or ownership of critical assets.

(b) Foreign influence operations, regardless of the nation of origin, undermine democratic self-government, distort public debate, and place external agendas above the interests of Michigan citizens.

(c) A comprehensive, nationality-neutral prohibition, applied equally to every foreign country without exception or favoritism, is required to protect Michigan sovereignty.

(d) All enforcement under this act shall respect due process, the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Michigan, and applicable federal law, including the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Section 3. Definitions.

As used in this act:

(a) “Foreign principal” means a foreign government, foreign political party, foreign state-owned enterprise, foreign national, or any entity substantially owned, controlled, or directed by any of the foregoing.

(b) “Foreign influence activity” means any attempt by a foreign principal to affect Michigan elections, legislation, regulation, public education, or acquisition of critical assets through funding, lobbying, ownership, or covert means.

(c) “Critical asset” means agricultural land, water resources, energy infrastructure, ports, defense-related manufacturing, certain technology firms, and other categories designated by the Committee on Foreign Investment as posing security or sovereignty risks.

(d) “Committee” means the Michigan Committee on Foreign Investment created by this act.

Section 4. Total Ban on Foreign Funding of Politics and Policy Influence.

(1) No foreign principal may donate, directly or indirectly, to any Michigan candidate, political party, political action committee, or ballot-initiative committee.

(2) No foreign principal may fund public universities, K-12 schools, think tanks, or nonprofits for the purpose of influencing Michigan state policy.

(3) Any organization that has received foreign funds in the preceding five years and that spends money to influence Michigan elections or ballot measures shall publicly disclose all such foreign funding.

(4) Violations are subject to civil and criminal penalties, forfeiture of the contribution, and disqualification from further political activity in Michigan.

Section 5. Strict Foreign-Agent Registration and Lobbying Transparency.

(1) Any individual or organization acting in Michigan on behalf of a foreign principal shall register and disclose activities in a manner consistent with the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act and additional state requirements established by this act.

(2) Full public disclosure of all foreign lobbying expenditures and contacts with Michigan officials is mandatory.

(3) Former state elected officials and high-level appointees are prohibited from lobbying for foreign governments or foreign principals for a period of ten years after leaving office.

Section 6. Education and Cultural Influence Protections.

(1) Public universities and public K-12 schools shall not accept funding, programs, or partnerships from foreign governments or their proxies that compromise academic independence or advance foreign-state agendas.

(2) All foreign funding for research, professorships, or student organizations at public institutions shall be fully disclosed.

(3) Arrangements that create dual loyalty or require promotion of foreign-state narratives in the classroom are prohibited.

Section 7. Economic and Critical-Asset Protections.

(1) Foreign principals are prohibited from purchasing or acquiring controlling interests in Michigan agricultural land, water resources, energy infrastructure, ports, defense-related manufacturing, or other critical assets designated under this act.

(2) Existing prohibited holdings are subject to orderly divestiture under timelines and procedures established by law.

(3) A Michigan Committee on Foreign Investment is established to review transactions involving foreign principals that may pose risks to state or national security, food security, or critical infrastructure. The Committee shall apply nationality-neutral criteria and may recommend blocking or conditioning transactions.

(4) State contracts and economic incentives shall not be awarded to entities under substantial foreign adversarial control.

Section 8. Election-System Security.

Enhanced cybersecurity standards, audit requirements, and chain-of-custody protections shall be applied to election systems to detect and prevent foreign hacking or manipulation. Foreign-sourced hardware or software that cannot be adequately verified is prohibited in official election infrastructure.

Section 9. Foreign Interference Task Force and Penalties.

(1) A Foreign Interference Task Force is created within the Office of the Attorney General, with subpoena authority and coordination with federal agencies, to investigate and prosecute violations of this act.

(2) Violations shall constitute felonies where appropriate under state law, and shall trigger asset forfeiture, permanent debarment from state contracts and benefits, and, for non-citizens, referral for removal proceedings.

(3) Substantial whistleblower rewards shall be available for information that leads to successful enforcement and recovery of funds.

Section 10. Universal Application and Neutrality.

This act applies equally to every foreign country and foreign principal without exception. No ally, strategic partner, or adversary receives preferential treatment. The standard is American and Michigan sovereignty above all.

Section 11. Transparency Dashboard and Implementation.

(1) A public, searchable dashboard shall list disclosed foreign influence activities, funding, ownership reviews, and enforcement actions.

(2) State agencies shall immediately audit existing foreign funding and ownership in covered sectors and issue appropriate cease-and-desist or divestiture orders where violations are found.

(3) The State shall coordinate with federal authorities to strengthen national foreign-agent registration and foreign-investment review.

Section 12. Severability.

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act and the application of its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected. Nothing in this act shall be construed to impair legitimate diplomatic activity, lawful commerce consistent with this act, or rights protected by the Constitution.

Section 13. Effective Date.

This act takes effect 90 days after enactment. Registration, disclosure, and Committee review procedures shall be operational within 180 days.

Enacting Section.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

No Foreign Masters.

Michigan Sovereignty First.

American Sovereignty Is Non-Negotiable.

Equal Standards for Every Nation. Michigan First.