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Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025
Summary
- Amends the federal charter of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association to streamline governance provisions and membership requirements.
- Designates the board of directors as the governing body with powers and responsibilities as provided in the bylaws.
- Allows the principal office to be located at any United States location decided by the board of directors instead of requiring it to be in Washington, D.C.
- Prohibits the organization from issuing stock, paying dividends, and engaging in political activities or attempting to influence legislation.
- Restricts the distribution of income or assets to directors, officers, or members, except for reasonable compensation and reimbursement for expenses.
- Prohibits loans to directors, officers, members, or employees, and requires compliance with state or district law on service of process.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA)
1 cosponsor
Actions (17)
- Dec 12, 2025 Became Public Law No: 119-57.
- Dec 12, 2025 Signed by President.
- Dec 10, 2025 Presented to President. · house
- Dec 1, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Dec 1, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4928) · house
- Dec 1, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4928)
- Dec 1, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 616. · house
- Dec 1, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4928-4929) · house
- Dec 1, 2025 Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. · house
- May 5, 2025 Held at the desk. · house
- May 5, 2025 Received in the House. · house
- May 1, 2025 Message on Senate action sent to the House. · senate
- Apr 30, 2025 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2709-2710; text: CR S2709-2710) · senate
- Apr 30, 2025 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Apr 30, 2025 Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. · senate
- Feb 18, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. · senate
- Feb 18, 2025 Introduced in Senate
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (3)
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Full text
An Act
To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION. Section 70501 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking subsection (b); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP. Section 70503 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the following:
“(a) Eligibility.—Except as provided in this chapter, eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights and privileges of members are as provided in the bylaws.”; and
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
SEC. 4. GOVERNING BODY. Section 70504 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “Sec. 70504. Governing body
“(a) Board of Directors.—The board of directors is the governing body of the corporation. The board may exercise, or provide for the exercise of, the powers of the corporation. The board of directors and the responsibilities of the board are as provided in the bylaws.
“(b) Officers.—The officers and the election of the officers are as provided for in the bylaws.”.
SEC. 5. RESTRICTIONS. Section 70507 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “Sec. 70507. Restrictions
“(a) Stock and Dividends.—The corporation may not issue stock or declare or pay a dividend.
“(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.
“(2) No contribution, support, or participation.—The corporation or a director or officer in the corporate capacity of the director of officer may not contribute to, support, or participate in any political activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation.
“(c) Distribution of Income or Assets.—
“(1) In general.—The income or assets of the corporation may not inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, a director, officer, or member during the life of the charter granted by this chapter. This subsection does not prevent the payment, in amounts approved by the board of directors, of—
“(A) reasonable compensation; or
“(B) reimbursement for expenses incurred in undertaking the corporation’s business, to officers, directors, or members.
“(2) Rule of construction.—This subsection shall not be construed to—
“(A) prevent the award of a grant to a Federal Bar Association chapter of which an officer, director, or member may be a member; or
“(B) prevent the payment of reasonable compensation to the corporation’s employees for services undertaken on behalf of the corporation.
“(d) Loans.—The corporation may not make a loan to a director, officer, member, or employee.
“(e) Immunity From Liability.—Members and private individuals are not liable for the obligations of the corporation.
“(f) Claim of Governmental Approval or Authority.—The corporation—
“(1) may not claim congressional approval or the authority of the United States Government for any of its activities; and
“(2) may acknowledge this charter.”.
SEC. 6. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Section 70508 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking “the District of Columbia,” and inserting “a United States location decided by the board of directors and specified in the bylaws,”.
SEC. 7. SERVICE OF PROCESS. Section 70510 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “Sec. 70510. Service of process “The corporation shall comply with the law on service of process of the State or District in which it is incorporated.”.
SEC. 8. DEPOSIT OF ASSETS ON DISSOLUTION OR FINAL LIQUIDATION. Section 70512 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “Sec. 70512. 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; and
“(b) in compliance with the charter and bylaws.”.
SEC. 9. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation” for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.
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