Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
DISCLOSE Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 44 Democratic cosponsors · See all 46 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "DISCLOSE Act of 2026," aims to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to increase transparency in election spending. It focuses on closing loopholes that allow foreign nationals to influence domestic elections through various disbursements and entities. The legislation requires increased disclosure of campaign-related disbursements by covered organizations, including corporations and labor organizations. Additionally, it implements new reporting requirements for expenditures related to Federal judicial nominations. Finally, the bill expands disclaimer requirements for political communications to include more detailed information about funders.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +8
Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns?
The bill centralizes on significant campaign finance disclosure and transparency reforms.
- Scored +7
Does this make elections run better?
The bill aims to increase transparency and reduce foreign influence in federal elections.
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The act requires detailed reporting of campaign-related disbursements and judicial nomination spending.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill increases compliance and reporting burdens for covered organizations like corporations.
- Scored -3
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?
The bill increases disclosure requirements for significant political contributors.
- Scored -3
Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency of Political Spending: The bill requires covered organizations to disclose the names and addresses of people who make significant payments, which helps people know the true source of money used to influence elections (Section 201).
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Prevention of Foreign Influence: By clarifying the foreign money ban and prohibiting specific disbursements by covered foreign nationals, the bill seeks to prevent foreign entities from influencing domestic elections and ballot initiatives (Section s 101, 103, and 104).
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Better Information on Judicial Nominations: The bill requires the disclosure of spending related to Federal judicial nominations, which helps the public understand who is funding efforts to support or oppose judicial nominees (Section 202).
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Informed Electorate: The findings state that these disclosure requirements are intended to foster an informed electorate capable of engaging in self-government and holding officials accountable (Section 2).
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Tracking of Illicit Foreign Money: The bill mandates studies to identify the extent to which illicit foreign money targets specific groups, such as rural, minority, or veteran communities (Section 102).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Criminal Penalties for Concealment: Individuals, such as officers or agents of a corporation, could face up to five years in prison if they establish an entity with the intent to conceal prohibited foreign national contributions (Section 105).
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Burden of Disclosure for Organizations: Covered organizations must follow strict and detailed reporting requirements for their campaign-related disbursements (Section 201).
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Requirement for Specific Information in Advertisements: Certain political communications must now include specific disclosure statements, such as a "Top Five Funders list" or "Top Two Funders list," which may affect how advertisements are presented (Section 402).
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Potential for Legal Challenges: The bill includes provisions for judicial review, which could lead to legal actions challenging the constitutionality or lawfulness of the new requirements (Section s 302).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns? — The bill centralizes on significant campaign finance disclosure and transparency reforms. Does this make elections run better? — The bill aims to increase transparency and reduce foreign influence in federal elections. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The act requires detailed reporting of campaign-related disbursements and judicial nomination spending. Does this limit the influence of paid lobbyists? — Enhanced disclosure requirements may reduce the efficacy of undisclosed political influence. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal oversight and reporting requirements for election-related spending.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill mandates monitoring of how foreign money targets minority communities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to study foreign money targeting of rural communities. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill requires studies to see if foreign money targets veteran communities. Would billionaires be better off under this? Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill increases compliance and reporting burdens for covered organizations like corporations. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — The bill increases disclosure requirements for significant political contributors. Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill mandates studies on how foreign money targets minority communities to improve oversight. Does this protect the right to vote? — Increased transparency in campaign spending aims to foster a more informed electorate. Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life? — The bill introduces new disclosure and disclaimer requirements for political communications.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes new disclosure requirements on digital platforms and online advertising.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes studies on how foreign money targets rural communities.
- 3/4/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- 46 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts