House bill seeks tougher campaign finance disclosures, led by Rep. Pappas

A bill authored by Rep. Chris Pappas is under consideration in the U.S. House, targeting greater transparency in campaign financing and aiming to curb outside influence in federal elections, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.7802 was brought before Congress on March 4, 2026, during the regular session of the 119th Congress. Below is a summary based on the official bill text and may include clarifications to help explain its content.

The measure proposes to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by introducing broader disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and political action committees (PACs). Among its key initiatives: tightening restrictions that prevent foreign nationals from contributing financially to U.S. elections, requiring the prompt reporting of campaign expenditures over $10,000, and implementing heightened transparency for entities tied to federal judicial nominations. The bill directs organizations to identify their primary sources of funds and refines the definitions surrounding campaign-related spending. These measures are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and ultimately aim to foster more informed voters, deter improper influence, and include new requirements for judicial review pertaining to campaign finance law.

The legislation was introduced by Pappas (Democrat-NH-1st District) and is co-sponsored by Rep. Gabe Amo (Democrat-NH-1st District), Rep. Sanford D. Bishop (Democrat-NH-2nd District), and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat-NH-1st District), alongside 135 additional sponsors.

To date, Pappas has introduced 37 additional bills since the current session began.

The measure is related to two other proposed bills: S.3991 was introduced in the Senate on March 4, 2026, and H.R.2816 was submitted in the House on April 10, 2025, both marked as relevant by congressional documentation.

Congressional bills may originate in the U.S. House or Senate except for revenue proposals, which begin in the House. After a bill is introduced, it’s directed to appropriate committees for hearings, debate, possible amendments, and review before a full-chamber vote. If both chambers approve identical measures, the finished bill moves to the president for signature or veto. Each Congress serves a two-year term, split into annual sessions, with full legislative histories published on Congress.gov.

Chris Pappas represents New Hampshire. He was born in Manchester on June 4, 1980, graduated from Harvard University in 2002, previously served in the New Hampshire State House of Representatives (2003–2007), was Hillsborough County treasurer (2007–2011), then a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council (2013–2019), and was elected to Congress in 2019.

Data for this article comes from the U.S. Congress. Detailed sources are available online.