# 119-s-4978: Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026

119-s-4978, Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4978
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4978
- Congress: 119
- Title: Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-14
- Sponsor: Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Ban on settlement payments to outside parties.** This bill would bar federal officials from approving settlement agreements that send payments to anyone other than the United States except when the payment is direct restitution for harm caused by the wrongdoer or is payment for services tied to the case. - Federal agencies would have to report each qualifying settlement to the Congressional Budget Office every year. Agency Inspectors General would publish annual audit reports online and the reporting and audit rules expire after 7 years. - Government officials who agree to prohibited payments would face the penalties that apply under 31 U.S.C. 3302. - Nonfederal recipients would generally be barred from receiving settlement money unless the payment restores direct harm caused by the defendant or pays for services rendered in connection with the case.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI] (R-WI), 2026-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2026-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT), 2026-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2026-07-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban federal settlement donations to outsiders: mixed, low. If enacted, federal officials and agencies would not be able to enter or enforce settlement agreements that direct payments to any person or entity other than the United States. Two exceptions would apply: payments that provide restitution for or otherwise directly remedy actual harm (including env…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act
- 119-s-382: Dismantle DEI Act of 2025
- 119-s-587: Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025
- 119-s-186: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025
- 119-s-6: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
- 119-s-9: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-4978 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4978)

## Related
- [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752)
- [119-s-382: Dismantle DEI Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-382)
- [119-s-587: Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-587)
- [119-s-186: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-186)
- [119-s-6: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-6)
- [119-s-9: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-9)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4978 (as of 2026-08-11).