United States 119th Congress ✓ Enacted · P.L. 119-57 Bipartisan · 1 R · 1 D cosponsors

S 616 — Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025

Last action — Became Public Law No: 119-57.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2025. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025This act revises the federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association to shift authority from the charter to the bylaws.Specifically, it makes the following changes:removes the requirement for the foundation to be incorporated and domiciled in the District of Columbia;requires the board of directors to decide, and specify in the bylaws, the location of the principal office;specifies that the bylaws—not the charter—must provide for the terms of membership, the responsibilities of the board of directors, and the election of officers;prohibits a director or officer, in his or her corporate capacity, from contributing to, supporting, or participating in political activities;allows income and assets of the corporation to be used to reasonably compensate or reimburse expenses of an officer, director, or member; to award a grant to the Federal Bar Association chapter of an officer, director, or member; and to reasonably compensate employees;expands a prohibition on loans for directors and officers to include members and employees; andspecifies that on dissolution or final liquidation, any remaining assets must be distributed as provided by the board of directors instead of deposited in the Treasury.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

43 added · 43 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to the bill updates several sections of title 36, United States Code, specifically regarding the Federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. It clarifies that the corporation may pay reasonable compensation to its employees and mandates that the corporation comply with the service of process laws of the State or District of its incorporation. These changes are relevant for ensuring that the organization can properly compensate its staff and follow legal protocols in its jurisdiction.

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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S.
[119th Congress Public Law 57] [From the U.S.
Government Publishing Office] [S.
Government Publishing Office] [[Page 139 STAT.
616 Engrossed in Senate (ES)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
711]] Public Law 119-57 119th Congress An Act To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
616 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
<<NOTE:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
Dec.
12, - [S.
616]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE:
Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025.>> SECTION <<NOTE:
36 USC 101 note.>> 1.
``(b) Political Activities.-- ``(1) In general.--The activities, funds, income, and property of the corporation may not be used to carry on political activity or attempt to influence legislation.
``(b) Political Activities.-- [[Page 139 STAT.
712]] ``(1) In general.--The activities, funds, income, and property of the corporation may not be used to carry on political activity or attempt to influence legislation.
Service of process ``The corporation shall comply with the law on service of process of the State or District in which it is incorporated.''.
<<NOTE:
Compliance.>> Service of process ``The corporation shall comply with the law on service of process of the State or District in which it is incorporated.''.
Deposit of assets on dissolution or final liquidation ``On dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, any assets of the corporation remaining after the discharge of all liabilities shall be distributed-- ``(a) as provided by the board of directors;
Deposit of assets on dissolution or final liquidation ``On dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, any assets of the corporation remaining after the discharge of all liabilities shall be distributed-- [[Page 139 STAT.
and ``(b) in compliance with the charter and bylaws.''.
713]] ``(a) as provided by the board of directors;
and ``(b) <<NOTE:
Compliance.>> in compliance with the charter and bylaws.''.
Passed the Senate April 30, 2025.
Approved December 12, 2025.
Attest:
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.
Secretary.
616:
119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol.
616 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
171 (2025):
Apr.
30, considered and passed Senate.
Dec.
1, considered and passed House.
<all>
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  3. Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

  4. Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

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

  6. Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2709-2710; text: CR S2709-2710)

  7. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Received in the House.

  9. Held at the desk.

  10. Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  11. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4928-4929)

  12. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 616.

  13. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4928)

  14. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4928)

  15. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  16. Presented to President.

  17. Presented to President.

  18. Signed by President.

  19. Signed by President.

  20. Became Public Law No: 119-57.

  21. Became Public Law No: 119-57.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (545)

545 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 545 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 616 do?
Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025This act revises the federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association to shift authority from the charter to the bylaws.Specifically, it makes the following changes:removes the requirement for the foundation to be incorporated and domiciled in the District of Columbia;requires the board of directors to decide, and specify in the bylaws, the location of the principal office;specifies that the bylaws—not the charter—must provide for the terms of membership, the responsibilities of the board of directors, and the election of officers;prohibits a director or officer, in his or her corporate capacity, from contributing to, supporting, or participating in political activities;allows income and assets of the corporation to be used to reasonably compensate or reimburse expenses of an officer, director, or member; to award a grant to the Federal Bar Association chapter of an officer, director, or member; and to reasonably compensate employees;expands a prohibition on loans for directors and officers to include members and employees; andspecifies that on dissolution or final liquidation, any remaining assets must be distributed as provided by the board of directors instead of deposited in the Treasury.
Who sponsors S 616?
S 616 is sponsored by Kennedy, John (Republican) and Whitehouse, Sheldon (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 616?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track S 616?
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