Sponsor
Tom Barrett
Representative · R-MI
The bill reduces out-of-state independent spending to boost local control and more locally focused messaging in some House races, at the cost of limiting national groups' ability to influence those contests and increasing compliance and constitutional free-speech concerns.
Candidates in affected U.S. House and territorial delegate races would face less out-of-state independent spending, shifting more influence over messaging and funding to in-state donors and campaigns.
Voters in those districts would likely see political advertising and messaging that better reflects local priorities because outside-only committees would be limited from financing those races.
National independent-expenditure groups, unions, and out-of-state citizens would have reduced ability to fund or run ads in some House races, limiting avenues for cross-state political advocacy and raising free-speech concerns.
The rule would concentrate influence among in-state donors and reduce the ability of national organizations to affect outcomes outside their state, shifting the balance of political power toward local contributors.
Political committees and the FEC would face higher compliance, reporting, and enforcement burdens to track contributor residence or origin, increasing administrative costs for campaigns and regulators.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires IE‑only committees to use at least 50% in‑state donor funds for independent expenditures for a State's U.S. House candidate.
Representative · R-MI
Official title: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide that not less than half of the funds used to make certain independent expenditures must be contributed by persons in the State where the expenditure is made.
Introduced July 16, 2026 by Tom Barrett · Last progress July 16, 2026
Prohibits independent-expenditure-only political committees from making independent expenditures for a candidate for U.S. Representative (including Delegates or Resident Commissioners) in a State unless at least half of the money used for that expenditure came from donors with in‑state addresses. The bill adds a new restriction to federal campaign finance law governing who may fund independent ads and other independent spending aimed at House campaigns. The change targets committees that exist solely to make independent expenditures and ties their ability to spend in a State to a 50% in‑state funding threshold; it does not create new spending authorizations or appropriate funds.