Skip to content

Menu

LexBlog, Inc. logo
NetworkSub-MenuBrowse by SubjectBrowse by PublisherJoin the NetworkGet StartedSubscribeSupport
Contact Us
Search
Close

States Introduce More “Baby” FARA Bills

By Robert Kelner & Alex Langton on April 30, 2024
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn

Over the past several weeks, legislatures in Arizona, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have introduced bills that mirror the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). There has been a trend in the states to enact so-called “baby FARA” laws that apply to foreign influenced political activity in the states, although until now those laws generally focused narrowly on regulation of political contributions. 

In this client alert, we summarize these recently introduced bills.

  • States Introduce More “Baby” FARA Bills
Photo of Robert Kelner Robert Kelner

Robert Kelner is the chair of Covington’s nationally recognized Election and Political Law Practice Group.  He counsels clients on the full range of political law compliance matters, and defends clients in civil and criminal law enforcement investigations concerning political activity. He also leads…

Robert Kelner is the chair of Covington’s nationally recognized Election and Political Law Practice Group.  He counsels clients on the full range of political law compliance matters, and defends clients in civil and criminal law enforcement investigations concerning political activity. He also leads the firm’s prominent congressional investigations practice.

Rob’s political law compliance practice covers federal and state campaign finance, lobbying disclosure, pay to play, and government ethics laws. His expertise includes the Federal Election Campaign Act, Lobbying Disclosure Act, Ethics in Government Act, Foreign Agents Registration Act, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

He is also a leading authority on the arcane rules governing political contributions and marketing activities by registered investment advisers and municipal securities dealers.

Rob’s political law clients include numerous multinational corporations, many of which are household names.  He counsels major banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, trade associations, PACs, political party committees, candidates, lobbying firms, and politically active high-net-worth individuals. He has represented the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and National Republican Senatorial Committee.  He also advises Presidential political appointees on the complex vetting and confirmation process.

As a partner in the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice group, Rob regularly defends clients in congressional investigations before virtually every major congressional investigation committee.  He also defends corporations and others in investigations by the Federal Election Commission, the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, federal Offices of Inspector General, and the House & Senate Ethics Committees.  He has prepared many CEOs and corporate executives for testimony before congressional investigation panels. He regularly leads the Practicing Law Institute’s training program on congressional investigations for in-house lawyers.  In addition, he is frequently retained to lead internal investigations and compliance reviews for major corporate clients concerning lobbying and campaign finance law issues.

Rob has appeared as a commentator on political law matters on The PBS News Hour, CNBC, Fox News, and NPR, and he has been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Legal Times, Roll Call, The Hill, Politico, USA Today, Financial Times, and other publications.

Rob is Chairman of Covington’s Professional Responsibility Committee and a General Counsel of the firm.  He also currently serves as Chairman of the District of Columbia Bar’s Legislative Practice Committee, and he previously was appointed by the President of the American Bar Association to serve on the ABA’s Standing Committee on Election Law.

Read more about Robert KelnerEmail
Show more Show less
Photo of Alex Langton Alex Langton

Alexandra Langton is a member of the Election and Political Law Practice Group in the Washington, D.C., office. She represents clients in high-profile and high-risk DOJ investigations, FEC investigations, congressional investigations, and other criminal and civil matters that present legal, political, and public…

Alexandra Langton is a member of the Election and Political Law Practice Group in the Washington, D.C., office. She represents clients in high-profile and high-risk DOJ investigations, FEC investigations, congressional investigations, and other criminal and civil matters that present legal, political, and public relations risks. She also advises companies, nonprofits, and individuals on compliance with federal and state campaign finance, ethics, lobbying laws, and vetting matters.

Alexandra has particular expertise in the Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). She frequently interacts with the FARA Unit of the Department of Justice and advises clients on top-tier FARA compliance programs, including FARA policies, FARA trainings, and FARA filings. Alexandra also represents a number of clients in high-profile civil and criminal FARA enforcement actions. She has also advised numerous government and former government officials in federal investigations and litigation.

Read more about Alex LangtonEmail
Show more Show less
  • Posted in:
    Government and Public Policy
  • Blog:
    Inside Political Law
  • Organization:
    Covington & Burling LLP
  • Article: View Original Source

Call us at 1-800-913-0988 or email sales@lexblog.com.

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter RSS
  • About LexBlog
  • The Field We Built
  • Our Beliefs
  • Our Team
  • Contact LexBlog
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Get Started
  • Publishing Solutions
  • Compass
  • Submit a Request
  • Support Center
  • System Status
Copyright © 2026, LexBlog, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Law blog design & platform by LexBlog LexBlog Logo