DISCLOSE Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced
Summary
Stopping foreign money in U.S. elections. This bill would expand who counts as a foreign donor, broaden what counts as a contribution, and tighten disclosure and advertising rules for groups and platforms.
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- Groups like corporations, LLCs, unions, 527s, and many political committees would face faster disclosure rules. They must report campaign-related disbursements over $10,000 within 24 hours and disclose beneficial owners with some reapplication rules every four years.
- Covered foreign nationals would be barred from funding expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications, certain online ads, and ballot initiative spending. The bill creates a new criminal concealment offense with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
- The bill defines "online platforms" as services with 50,000,000 monthly U.S. users or equivalents and directs the Federal Election Commission to write implementing rules within six months. It also mandates coordination with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for information sharing.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
Faster reports for political spenders
If enacted, covered organizations that spend more than $10,000 in an election cycle would have to file sworn statements with the FEC within 24 hours of each disclosure date. The statements would name the group, list beneficial owners for many corporations, and report each campaign-related disbursement over $1,000 with recipient names and addresses. Payments into segregated accounts by other persons would be reported once those payments total $10,000 in the reporting period. These rules would apply to disbursements made on or after January 1, 2027 and would treat some judicial nomination communications on a calendar-year reporting cycle.
Tighter ban on foreign political money
If enacted, the bill would expand the ban on foreign money in U.S. politics to cover many online platforms and large ad vendors that meet a 50,000,000 monthly U.S. visitor test. It would explicitly cover expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications, and certain paid online communications inside 60‑day general and 30‑day primary windows, and it would treat certain transfers and payments as contributions. The bill would also broaden the legal definition of "contribution or donation" to catch payments that fund political ads or committees. Some lookback and timing rules would apply starting January 1, 2027.
Stricter ad labels and funder lists
If enacted, paid communications not authorized by candidates would need clearer disclaimers and lists of major funders. Video and text ads would often need a Top Five Funders list and audio ads a Top Two list using a 12‑month $10,000 lookback. The bill would set minimum text size, audio wording, and video display times (generally 6 seconds, 4 seconds for very short videos) and treat prerecorded calls as audio ads. These rules would apply to communications made on or after January 1, 2027 and would take effect even if the FEC has not finished rules.
Regular GAO study on foreign money
If enacted, the Government Accountability Office would study illicit foreign money in Federal elections every 4 years. Reports would describe how foreign money targeted groups like rural, minority, and veteran communities when information is available. Reports would be due one year after each 4‑year cycle ends. The study requirement would stop applying to cycles that begin after the 2036 Presidential election.
FinCEN must share info with FEC
If enacted, the FinCEN Director would be required to give the FEC information needed to help enforce the bill's new reporting and foreign‑money rules. The FEC Chair and the FinCEN Director would also have to report to Congress with recommended additional authorities within 6 months of enactment. This is intended to strengthen enforcement but would not change household taxes or benefits directly.
Crime for hiding foreign political money
If enacted, it would be a federal crime for an owner, officer, attorney, or incorporation agent to form or use a company with the intent to hide political activity funded by a foreign national. Conviction could bring up to 5 years in prison, fines under Title 18, or both.
Quick legal review in D.C. courts
If enacted, legal challenges to this Act would be filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and appealed to the D.C. Circuit. Courts would be directed to advance and expedite these cases. Members of Congress could intervene or bring cases under these special rules, and constitutional challengers must deliver copies of complaints to House and Senate clerks.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov