HR-4786 — Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain Act

YourVoice.Now Summary

Transparency & AccountabilityCivil Liberties

Candidates who lose or retire would get about two years to clear out the campaign account.

Transparency & Accountability

Deadline to empty old campaign accounts — about two years

Right now, a losing or retiring candidate can hold leftover campaign money with no end date. This bill would set a two-year clock that starts after the filing deadline for the next election.

Faster payout for candidates turned lobbyist — or foreign agent

The clock would end early the day a former candidate makes a lobbying contact that requires signing up as a lobbyist. It would also end the day they become an agent of a foreign government.

Limits on leftover campaign money — debts, refunds, charity, party only

Committees would first pay off what they owe. Whatever is left could only be refunded to donors, given to a charity, or sent to a political party.

Ban on paying a candidate's relatives — except reported campaign bills

Campaign money could not go to a candidate's parents, children, brothers, sisters, spouse, in-laws, or cousins. The one exception is paying a real campaign bill that the committee reports.

Sworn proof of a cleared account — lobbyists and foreign agents

People signing up as lobbyists or foreign agents would state that their old campaign accounts follow the new rule. They would sign under penalty of perjury, so lying on the form is a crime.

Civil Liberties

Keeping a campaign war chest — allowed only if running again

A former candidate could no longer park money for a run years down the road. Filing for the next race before the clock starts is the only way to keep the account.

More about this bill

Most people would see no change in daily life. The rules here apply to people who run for Congress or other federal offices. A candidate who loses or retires can now sit on leftover campaign money for years. This bill would give them about two years to pay it all out. The account would have to be emptied sooner if the former candidate starts lobbying. The same goes for anyone who signs on to work for a foreign government. Leftover money could only go to four places: campaign debts, refunds to donors, charity, or a political party. None of it could go to a relative, unless it pays a campaign bill the committee reports. Former candidates who register as lobbyists or foreign agents would swear their accounts follow the rule. They would sign that under penalty of perjury. The change would start with the November 2026 election.

Congressional Summary

Establishes requirements for disbursing unused campaign funds after elections conclude and when former candidates register as lobbyists.

Legislative Subjects

Campaign financeLobbyingElectionsEthics

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber
Status: summarized
Action
Action Date: 2025-07-29
Date Added: 2026-03-31
Source: Congress.gov →

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