Compliance Notes - Vol. 7, Issue 15

Campaign Finance & Lobbying Compliance

The U.S. House passed the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act (H.R. 3535) that would prohibit foreign funding of state and local ballot measures, referenda and recall elections. Proponents say the bill would extend existing prohibitions on foreign money in federal elections to state and local political contests, preventing foreign nationals from financing efforts that influence state and local elections. The bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration on July 14, 2026. (Thérèse Boudreaux, The Center Square)

The House Committee on Ways and Means advanced a package of bills on July 22, 2026, that would expand disclosure and compliance requirements for tax-exempt organizations, with a focus on foreign funding, political activity and fiscal sponsorship arrangements. The package included the Stopping Foreign Influence in Elections Act (H.R. 9771), which would penalize large tax-exempt organizations