Congress·In Committee·H.R. 4511

Uncheck the Box Act

Rep. Levin Introduces Bipartisan Uncheck the Box Act to Ban Automatic Recurring Campaign Donations

9 months ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

This bill was recently introduced and is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on House Administration. It is in the early stages of the lawmaking process and is not yet scheduled for a vote. The bill is actively moving forward as it waits for the committee to decide on its next steps.

Passage Likelihood

65%Likely

This bill has support from both parties and addresses a problem that frustrates voters across the political spectrum. Because it protects people's bank accounts, it is likely to move forward.

·Bipartisan cosponsors
·High public interest in consumer protection
·Introduced in House Administration Committee

Legislative Progress

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Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill bans political campaigns and other political committees from using pre-checked boxes or other passive methods to sign donors up for recurring contributions. Donors must actively opt in to give money on a recurring basis.
From policy text
“a contributor or donor who does not take an affirmative action to make or agree to make a contribution or donation on a recurring basis, including a contributor or donor who engages only in a passive action such as failing to uncheck a pre-checked box authorizing a recurring contribution or donation, shall not be considered to give affirmative consent”
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Every time a recurring payment is processed, the campaign must send a receipt that clearly shows the amount, the date, and when the next charge will happen. This gives donors full visibility into what they are being charged.
From policy text
“the person shall provide the contributor or donor with a receipt that clearly and conspicuously discloses all of the material terms of the contribution or donation, including a statement of the date and amount of the next recurrence of the contribution or donation”
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Campaigns must include cancellation instructions in every communication about the donation, and they must immediately stop charges when a donor asks them to. This makes it much easier for people to stop unwanted recurring payments.
From policy text
“the person shall include in each communication with the contributor or donor which relates to the contribution or donation all of the information the contributor or donor needs to cancel any subsequent recurrence of the contribution or donation”
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The new rules would take effect either when the Federal Election Commission writes its regulations or 180 days after the law is signed, whichever comes first. This gives campaigns a window to update their donation systems.
The bill has bipartisan support, introduced by two Democrats (Levin and Neguse) and two Republicans (LaLota and Obernolte), reflecting shared concern about deceptive fundraising practices across the political spectrum.
From policy text
“Mr. Levin (for himself, Mr. LaLota, Mr. Neguse, and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following bill”
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Economy Finance

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jul 17, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Jul 17, 2025

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Related News

4 articles

WORLD News Group·7 months ago

Cutting through campaign spam

In July, Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., reintroduced the Uncheck the Box Act, a bipartisan bill to prevent campaigns from using prechecked boxes in online donation forms for things like recurring payments. The bill aims to curb 'dark patterns' that trick donors into unintended financial commitments.

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The Independent·over 1 year ago

Deceptive fundraising tactics are tricking the elderly into blowing their life savings on political donations

A CNN investigation found that older Americans, especially those with neurological impairments, have fallen victim to marketing ploys where 'one off' donations are actually recurring. The report highlights how pre-checked boxes on fundraising pages can drain bank accounts without clear consent.

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Marketplace·over 1 year ago

The push to revive limits on the abortion pill

A segment on exploited donors highlights a CNN investigation into how elderly Americans end up signing up for automatic recurring donations. The report finds these fundraising tactics, including pre-checked boxes, fall into a legal gray area that the Uncheck the Box Act seeks to address.