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Congress·Passed Senate·3 months ago

Senate Passes Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act, Requiring Lobbyists to Reveal Foreign Agent Exemptions

Also known as: Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ Senate
House
President

Key Points

  • Lobbyists will now have to say if they are claiming a special exemption from being treated as a foreign agent.
  • This makes it easier for the public and reporters to see which lobbyists have ties to foreign governments or groups.
  • The change does not ban any activity, but it adds one more box of information on lobbying forms.
  • This could help catch people who might try to hide foreign influence in Washington.
  • Most impact is in politics and government circles, but it may affect which interests shape laws that touch everyday life.
National SecurityForeign PolicyCivil RightsEconomyTechnology

Milestones

7 milestones11 actions
Dec 17, 2025House

Held at the desk.

Dec 17, 2025House

Received in the House.

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Dec 16, 2025Senate

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8794; text: CR S8794)

Dec 16, 2025

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law and the registration system updates its forms

Federal lobbying registration forms add a new required statement about the foreign-agent exemption

If you register as a lobbyist, you’ll have to answer the new disclosure item when you file or update your registration.

In the first filing cycle after the new requirement takes effect

Lobbying firms and in-house lobbying teams update internal compliance checklists

Organizations may add an extra step to confirm whether they are claiming the exemption before submitting paperwork, which can slow filings slightly but reduce errors.

Once the updated registrations start being filed and published online

Public lobbying databases begin showing the new disclosure field

Journalists and the public can more easily search and compare filings for this exemption statement.

Related News

2 articles
SooLeader·2 months ago

Bills to close foreign lobbying loopholes clear Senate

The Senate unanimously passed the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Gary Peters and Chuck Grassley. The legislation requires lobbyists representing foreign organizations to indicate if they are utilizing a FARA exemption when registering under the LDA.

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New York Law Journal·8 months ago

Back to the Future: Developments and Potential Changes for FARA on the Horizon

The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S. 865) seeks to narrow the LDA exemption. While it would not eliminate the exemption, it would require individuals to disclose their use of it in their LDA registration, highlighting for the DOJ those lobbying on behalf of foreign interests.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act

Bill NumberS 865
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionPassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.