Campaign Funds Integrity Act of 2026
HB 8912, the Campaign Funds Integrity Act of 2026, would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to bar candidates, authorized committees, and other political committees from using campaign funds to participate in prediction markets or event contracts. The prohibition is broad and covers contracts or instruments whose value depends on the outcome of an election, legislative action, regulatory decision, or other political or economic event.
The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms. Violations would be handled under existing FEC enforcement procedures, with civil penalties available for ordinary violations and criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations, including possible fines and up to five years’ imprisonment. The Federal Election Commission would be directed to issue regulations and guidance on permissible financial instruments and compliance requirements, while a rule of construction clarifies that ordinary deposits, diversified mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and other low-risk instruments approved by the Commission remain allowed.
If enacted, the bill would directly amend Section 324 of the Federal Election Campaign Act and create a new federal restriction on how campaign money may be invested or traded. It would affect candidates, campaign committees, political committees, and the Federal Election Commission, while also potentially implicating the Department of Justice through criminal referrals. The bill would take effect 120 days after enactment and would require the FEC to define compliant financial activity through regulations.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be presented as a campaign-finance integrity and anti-speculation proposal rather than a partisan policy fight in the available record. The title and structure suggest support for tighter oversight of political money and concern about using donor funds for speculative trading tied to political outcomes. No vote history or transcript material is available to show formal support or opposition.
The main point of contention is likely to be the scope of the ban, especially the inclusion of prediction markets and event contracts tied not only to elections but also to legislative, regulatory, economic, and other political events. Critics could argue that the definition is broad and may sweep in legitimate hedging or low-risk financial activity, while supporters would likely emphasize preventing misuse of campaign funds and avoiding conflicts of interest. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on FEC rulemaking to distinguish prohibited speculation from permissible investments.