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Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections (ZOMBIE) Act

Bill Number
S. 1849
Origin Chamber
Senate
Congress
119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Status
Introduced
Latest Action
2025-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Last Updated
2025-08-15T21:14:03Z

Official Summary

Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections (ZOMBIE) Act

This bill establishes certain requirements for disbursing unused funds after a federal election. The bill also requires former candidates serving as registered lobbyists or foreign agents to comply with disbursement requirements.

Specifically, the bill requires each authorized committee or leadership political action committee (PAC) of a candidate to disburse all unused funds within a specified time period beginning after an election or before the candidate registers as a lobbyist or foreign agent, unless the candidate files to run for office again before the disbursement period begins.

A committee or PAC disbursing unspent funds shall first pay any obligations incurred. If funds are left over, the committee or PAC may only disburse the remaining funds for the following purposes: (1) returning funds to donors; and (2) making contributions to nonprofit organizations. The bill generally prohibits disbursements to relatives of the candidate or certain nonprofit organizations related to the candidate.

A former candidate must, in order to register as a lobbyist or foreign agent, comply with the disbursement requirements outlined by this bill.

Sponsor

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

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