FILE - The William McKinley Monument is silhouetted in front of the west side of the Ohio Statehouse, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. COLUMBUS, Ohio — free speech and association, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court.
"Because of HB 1, all noncitizens are now threatened with investigation, criminal prosecution, and mandatory fines if they even indicate they intend to engage in any election-related spending or contributions − including to support or oppose ballot questions in virtually any capacity,” according to the lawsuit.
Statehouse Republicans championed the ban on foreign nationals' donations to issue campaigns after a string of ballot measure didn't go their way. Voters sided against GOP leaders’ prevailing positions by wide margins on three separate ballot measures last year, including by protecting abortion access in the state Constitution, turning back a proposal to make it harder to pass such constitutional amendments in the future, and legalizing recreational marijuana.