To codify Executive Order 14248, entitled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections".
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2499
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T05:06:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, H.R. 2499, aims to convert Executive Order 14248—titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections"—into statutory law. By doing so, it ensures the order's directives have the full binding force of federal legislation, rather than relying on executive authority alone.
Key Provisions
- Codification of the Executive Order: The bill declares that Executive Order 14248 (published in the Federal Register at 90 Fed. Reg. 14005) shall have the "force and effect of law." This means the order's requirements become permanent federal law, enforceable through Congress rather than the president's administration.
- No additional provisions are outlined in the bill itself; it solely focuses on embedding the existing executive order into the U.S. Code.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elevation of Executive Action: This introduces a major shift by transforming a temporary executive order (which can be revoked by future presidents) into enduring statutory law. Previously, the order operated under the president's Article II powers; now, it requires congressional action to amend or repeal.
- No direct amendments to other laws are specified, but it integrates the order's election integrity measures directly into the legal framework without needing further executive enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies (e.g., those involved in election security, such as the Department of Justice or Election Assistance Commission) would be compelled to implement and enforce the order's provisions as binding law, potentially increasing oversight and resource allocation for election protection.
- On Citizens: Voters and election participants may experience enhanced safeguards against perceived threats to election integrity, such as fraud or foreign interference, though specifics depend on the order's content (e.g., voter ID requirements or ballot verification).
- On International Relations: If the order addresses foreign election meddling, it could strengthen U.S. positions in diplomatic efforts to counter external influences, potentially affecting relations with nations accused of interference.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Election Officials and State Governments: Local and state election administrators would need to comply with federal standards, possibly facing new mandates on processes like voter registration or ballot handling.
- Political Parties and Candidates: Parties and campaigns could benefit from or challenge measures aimed at ensuring "fair" elections, influencing campaign strategies.
- Voters and Civil Rights Groups: Citizens, advocacy organizations (e.g., those focused on voting rights), and minority communities might see changes in access to voting, with potential debates over inclusivity versus security.
- Federal Government: The executive branch gains permanence for its policies, while Congress assumes oversight responsibility.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Codifying an executive order reduces reliance on executive discretion, making challenges to its provisions subject to statutory interpretation rather than administrative law. This could lead to litigation over whether the order exceeds congressional authority on elections (a power largely reserved to states under the Constitution).
- Constitutional Implications: It reinforces federal involvement in elections under Article I, Section 4 (which allows Congress to regulate federal elections), but may raise Tenth Amendment concerns if it infringes on state election authority. The bill's passage would affirm the separation of powers by requiring legislative buy-in for executive policies.
- Political Implications: As a bipartisan or partisan effort (introduced by Representatives Hamadeh and Tenney), it could polarize debates on election security, potentially influencing future voting laws or responses to election disputes. Referred to multiple committees (House Administration, Judiciary, and Ways and Means), it signals broad jurisdictional review before enactment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham [R-AZ-8]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To codify Executive Order 14248, entitled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections". — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (2 pages)