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H.R. 8738 119th Congress House

FEC Administrative Improvements Act

Official title: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require electronic report filing for persons making certain electioneering communications and to permit p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: 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.

Introduced: May 12, 2026 Introduced by: Joseph D. Morelle Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Computers and information technologyElections, voting, political campaign regulationGovernment information and archivesPolitical advertisingState and local government operations
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 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Jul 13, 2026 · 5:23 PM EDT
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 13, 2026 · 5:23 PM EDT
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4401-4402)
Jul 13, 2026 · 5:23 PM EDT
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4401-4402)
Jul 13, 2026 · 5:17 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8738.
Jul 13, 2026 · 5:17 PM EDT
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4401-4402)
Jul 13, 2026 · 5:17 PM EDT
Mr. Steil moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 14, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 14, 2026
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 11 - 0.
May 12, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
May 12, 2026
Introduced in House
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What's happening now July 14, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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).

 Hearings & markups 1
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 2
R
Lee, Laurel M.
Florida · May 12, 2026
 D
Sewell, Terri A.
Alabama · May 12, 2026
 R
Steil, Bryan
Wisconsin · May 12, 2026
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8738: FEC Administrative Improvements Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8738/
MLA
"H.R. 8738: FEC Administrative Improvements Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8738/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8738, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8738/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8738: FEC Administrative Improvements Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8738/)
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