Congress and the Push for Disclosure

Despite the Bonta decision, federal-level challenges remain. Democratic leadership in Congress is advocating for laws like the Disclose Act, the Honest Ads Act, and the Amicus Act, which would impose extensive record-keeping and liability costs on nonprofit organizations. These laws would also require organizations to publicly disclose their membership, undermining the privacy and freedom of speech protections established by the Bonta ruling. Politicians' arguments for disclosure often focus on the theoretical need for transparency, but there are clear motives to silence certain groups and drain their resources. Balancing transparency with protecting donors' privacy is an ongoing challenge at both the state and federal levels.