DISCLOSE Act of 2019

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2019 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2019

This bill expands prohibitions and requires additional disclosures related to political spending. Specifically, foreign nationals are further restricted regarding their involvement in election related activity, including by prohibiting their participation in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure. Existing foreign money prohibitions are expanded to prohibit disbursements for paid internet or digital communications.

The Federal Election Commission must perform an audit after each election cycle to determine the incidence of illicit foreign money.

In general, organizations making political expenditures must disclose donors who have contributed $10,000 or more during an election cycle. Certain of these organizations, including corporations, must also disclose their beneficial owners.

The bill requires organizations to provide additional disclosures on certain political ads, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov