FEC Administrative Improvements Act

Joseph D. Morelle

Democrat · NY · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Bryan Steil (R-WI-1)Original· 2026-05-12
• Laurel M. Lee (R-FL-15)Original· 2026-05-12
• Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-7)Original· 2026-05-12

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

2026-07-13

Source: Congress.gov

FEC Administrative Improvements Act This bill expands electronic filing requirements and allows political committees to make disbursements by methods other than check. First, current law requires the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to make electronic filing mandatory for political committees and others required to file with the FEC who, in a calendar year, have, or have reason to expect to have, total contributions or expenditures exceeding a threshold amount set by the FEC (which is currently $50,000). Many independent expenditure reports are also subject to mandatory electronic filing. However, the current mandatory electronic filing provision does not apply to certain reports. This bill expands the types of reports that are required to be filed electronically to include electioneering communications (subject to the threshold amount). Second, current law requires political committees to maintain at least one campaign depository account and make all disbursements (other than petty cash disbursements) by check drawn on such accounts. This bill removes the requirement that disbursements must be made by check drawn on campaign depository accounts. Therefore, the bill allows political committees to make disbursements in other forms (e.g., credit or debit cards).

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8738 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8738 To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require electronic report filing for persons making certain electioneering communications and to permit political committees to make disbursements other than by check. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 12, 2026 Mr. Morelle (for himself, Ms. Lee of Florida, Mr. Steil, and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require electronic report filing for persons making certain electioneering communications and to permit political committees to make disbursements other than by check. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``FEC Administrative Improvements Act''. SEC. 2. REQUIRING ELECTRONIC FILING. Section 304(a)(11)(A)(i) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30104(a)(11)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting ``or makes electioneering communications'' after ``expenditures''. SEC. 3. PERMITTING POLITICAL COMMITTEES TO MAKE DISBURSEMENTS BY METHODS OTHER THAN CHECK. Section 302(h)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30102(h)(1)) is amended by striking ``except by check drawn on such accounts in accordance with this section'' and inserting ``except from such accounts''. <all>

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