S. 1849 — Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections (ZOMBIE) Act

This section requires each authorized committee or leadership PAC of a federal candidate to disburse all funds before the earliest of (1) the last day of the applicable six-month disbursement period (i.e., beginning the day after the latest date to qualify for the next election for the relevant office), (2) the date the candidate first makes a lobbying contact requiring registration under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603), or (3) the date the candidate becomes a foreign agent requiring registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 612); this requirement does not apply if the candidate qualifies for the next election before the period begins. Disbursements on or after the first day of the applicable period must first pay committee obligations, with any remainder returned to contributors or donated to organizations described in IRC §170(c); prohibits donations to candidate-established or -named charities, those employing the candidate or relatives, or to relatives (except to pay reported obligations). Makes a conforming amendment to FECA §313(a) (52 U.S.C. 30114(a)) subjecting permitted contribution uses to these rules. Applies to the November 2026 general election for federal office and all succeeding elections.

This section requires individuals registering as lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 who were candidates for federal office to certify (under penalty of perjury), as part of the registration contents, that each of their authorized committees and leadership PACs complies with Federal Election Campaign Act requirements for disbursing unexpended funds after the election date. The requirement applies to registration statements filed on or after the date of the regularly scheduled general election for federal office in November 2026.

This section requires an individual who was a candidate for federal office to include in a Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) registration statement a certification (under penalty of perjury) that each authorized committee and leadership PAC is in compliance with Federal Election Campaign Act requirements for disbursing unexpended funds after the election (adding new paragraph (12) to 22 U.S.C. 612(a)). The requirement applies to registration statements filed on or after the date of the regularly scheduled federal general election in November 2026.