H.R. 5238 — Stop Super PAC-Candidate Coordination Act

This section amends the definition of "contribution" under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to include any payment by a person (other than a candidate, authorized committee, or political party committee) for a coordinated expenditure, as defined in new FECA section 325. The new section defines "coordinated expenditure" as (1) any expenditure or payment for a covered communication made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, authorized committee, political party committee, or their agents; or (2) any payment republishing, disseminating, or distributing (in whole or part) a candidate's or committee's campaign material (including excerpts). Coordination exists if the payment or communication is not made entirely independently, including pursuant to any general or particular understanding or communication about it; however, it excludes payments for news stories/editorials (unless in party/candidate-controlled media), candidate debates/forums, and discussions solely on legislative/policy positions without addressing campaign activities. The provision deems payments for covered communications by a "coordinated spender"—defined as a person (other than a party committee) formed, established, requested, suggested, or encouraged by a candidate, authorized committee, or their agents during the prior four years—to be coordinated with that candidate.

This section clarifies and expands the prohibition on federal candidates and officeholders soliciting, receiving, directing, or transferring funds by adding subparagraph (C) to FECA §323(e)(1) to expressly bar such activities with respect to any political committee (or segregated account thereof) or IRC §527 political organization that accepts donations or contributions not subject to FECA's limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements—excluding state or local party committees and state or local candidates. The amendment applies to elections occurring after January 1, 2026.