Missouri’s Foreign Funding Ban Gets Its First Major Test
A new complaint shows why Missouri voters deserve strong safeguards against foreign money in ballot campaigns.
Americans for Public Trust has filed a complaint with Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway asking her office to investigate the ACLU Foundation and Stop the Ban under Missouri’s Foreign Influence in Ballot Measures Act. The complaint alleges the ACLU Foundation received foreign funding and later contributed to Stop the Ban, a Missouri ballot-measure committee.
🚨 NEW: Americans for Public Trust has filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General against the ACLU Foundation and Stop the Ban for violating Missouri’s Foreign Influence in Ballot Measures Act. pic.twitter.com/boIYx7Owsp
— Americans for Public Trust (@apublictrust) May 27, 2026
What the Complaint Alleges
The complaint centers on a simple chain of events.
Oak Foundation’s 2025 annual report lists a two-year, $2 million grant to the ACLU Foundation for “core support.” Oak says core support gives grantees flexibility to focus on their most pressing needs.
After receiving that grant, the ACLU Foundation made multiple contributions totaling $500,000 to Stop the Ban. On the day the complaint was filed, Stop the Ban reported another $2,000,000 from the ACLU Foundation.
Stop the Ban is opposing Amendment 3, the legislatively referred measure that would repeal Missouri’s 2024 abortion-rights amendment, restore health and safety protections, and ban transgender surgeries for minors.
What Missouri Law Says
Missouri’s foreign funding ban took effect on August 28, 2025. Senate Bill 152 added Sections 130.170 to 130.188, RSMo, banning ballot measure committees from accepting contributions from foreign nationals and other prohibited sources.
The law defines “foreign national” to include foreign governments, foreign political parties, certain foreign entities, and individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
The law also covers direct and indirect activity. “Directly or indirectly” means acting alone or through another committee, organization, person, or entity.
A foreign grant plus a later Missouri contribution is not the same thing as a final legal finding. But it is a reason to investigate.
Hanaway Is the Right Person for the Job
Attorney General Hanaway has already made foreign influence in ballot campaigns a priority.
In November, her office announced a reporting tool for suspected foreign involvement in ballot initiatives. The Attorney General’s office said the Foreign Influence in Ballot Measures Act gives it new authority to investigate and prevent foreign-sourced funding in ballot campaigns.
“Election integrity isn’t just about casting a ballot; it’s about ensuring that those who seek to influence Missouri’s elections are Americans, not foreign actors.”
Catherine Hanaway
What Are the Stakes?
Ballot measures can change Missouri law and rewrite the Missouri Constitution.
Voters should know the money behind those campaigns is lawful, accountable, and free from foreign influence.
Missouri’s law requires committees to make affirmations about foreign funding. Every campaign treasurer must affirm that committees have not knowingly or willfully received prohibited-source contributions, directly or indirectly, every time a report is submitted.
For major contributions, the law also requires donor affirmations. Reports must affirm that contributors are not foreign nationals and have not accepted more than $10,000 from prohibited sources within the relevant four-year period.
Those rules only matter if they are enforced.
Attorney General Hanaway should investigate, follow the evidence, and enforce Missouri law.
Missouri elections should be decided by Missourians.
Andy Bakker
Executive Director
Liberty Alliance USA