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HA1TOHS1FORHB216 • 2025

This Amendment to H.S.

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: K. Williams
Last action: 2026-05-21
Official status: Introduced and Placed With Bill
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Amendment to Align State Election Rules with Federal Law

This amendment updates state election laws to match federal rules on foreign money and removes some reporting requirements for political ads.

What This Bill Does

Aligns the ban on foreign contributions or expenditures in state elections with federal law for clarity and consistency.
Removes the requirement that candidate committees or political parties disclose additional details about each advertisement expenditure, including the target audience.
Defines indirect payments as those made through a conduit, intermediary, affiliate, or any other person acting on behalf of or at the direction of a foreign national.
Adds a clause stating that if one part of the law is found invalid, the rest can still stay in effect.

Who It Names or Affects

Foreign nationals who might try to give money or spend it on state elections
Candidate committees and political parties running for office

Terms To Know

Severability clause: A rule saying if one part of a law is found invalid, the rest of the law can still work.
Foreign national: Any person or group that is not from the United States.

Limits and Unknowns

The official text does not state when this amendment will officially become law.
The specific details of what advertisement information was removed are described generally but not listed in full detail here.

Bill History

2026-05-21 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Placed With Bill

Official Summary Text

This Amendment to H.S. 1 to HB 216 aligns the State ban on foreign contributions or expenditures in State elections with that of the federal law for clarity and consistency. It also removes the requirement that a candidate committee or political party disclose additional details about each expenditure on an advertisement, including the target audience. Finally, this Amendment adds a severability clause.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. K. Williams

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1

FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 216

AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 by deleting lines 45 through 48 in their entirety and redesignating accordingly.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 on line 81 by deleting “

(35)b.3.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

(34)b.3.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 on line 88 by deleting “

(35)c.2.

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

(34)c.2.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 by deleting lines 133 through 138 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“

(a) No foreign national may, directly or indirectly, make a contribution, expenditure, independent expenditure, or electioneering communication in connection with any state or local election in this State.

(b) No candidate, candidate committee, political committee, or other person may knowingly solicit, accept, direct, receive, or expend a contribution or other thing of value from a foreign national.

(c) A contribution or expenditure shall be considered indirect if made through a conduit, intermediary, affiliate, or any other person or entity acting on behalf of or at the direction of a foreign national.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 by deleting lines 189 through 197 in their entirety.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 on line 198 by deleting “

(i)

” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

(h)

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 to House Bill No. 216 after line 268 by inserting the following:

“Section 10. This Act is severable. If a provision of this Act or the application of this Act to a person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect the provisions or applications of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.”.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment to H.S. 1 to HB 216 aligns the State ban on foreign contributions or expenditures in State elections with that of the federal law for clarity and consistency. It also removes the requirement that a candidate committee or political party disclose additional details about each expenditure on an advertisement, including the target audience. Finally, this Amendment adds a severability clause.