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H.R. 8809119th CongressIn committeeLatest action May 14, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8809 expands FARA to cover US advocacy groups that advance foreign government interests, even without direct foreign funding.
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HR 8809 expands the Foreign Agents Registration Act to cover American organizations whose lobbying work mainly benefits a foreign country, even if those groups receive no direct foreign funding. Indicators that could trigger registration include regularly pushing for policies that match a foreign government's goals, coordinating with foreign officials, or having a foreign country's name in the organization's title. Groups reclassified under the new definition would have to register as foreign agents and publicly report their activities.
The bill most directly affects American advocacy and lobbying organizations whose work strongly aligns with the interests of a specific foreign country, as well as individual lobbyists working for such organizations. Ordinary Americans are not subject to new requirements but gain the right to file a formal complaint with the Department of Justice requesting an investigation into whether a group should be registered.
Any US citizen could file a complaint with the Department of Justice asking investigators to look into whether a group should be registered under FARA. The Attorney General would have 180 days to publish clear guidance on how the new rules work, including real-world examples.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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dailycaller.com
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theblaze.com
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