S 616
· 119th Congress
· Law
Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025
Sponsor
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-57.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Dec 12, 2025
signed
Signed by President.
Dec 12, 2025
signed
Became Public Law No: 119-57.
Dec 10, 2025
sent
Presented to President.
Dec 01, 2025
floor
Mr. McClintock moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 01, 2025
floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4928-4929)
Dec 01, 2025
floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 616.
Dec 01, 2025
passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4928)
Dec 01, 2025
passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4928)
Dec 01, 2025
passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 05, 2025
floor
Received in the House.
May 05, 2025
floor
Held at the desk.
May 01, 2025
floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Apr 30, 2025
committee
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Judiciary Committee
Apr 30, 2025
passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Apr 30, 2025
passed
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2709-2710; text: CR S2709-2710)
Feb 18, 2025
introduced
Introduced in Senate
Feb 18, 2025
introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Judiciary Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
CRS summaries
Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.
00
Introduced in Senate
Feb 18, 2025
Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025
This bill 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; and
specifies 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.
via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+38
−65
76 unchanged
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--- Engrossed (Senate)
+++ Enrolled
@@ -1,35 +1,34 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[S. 616 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
+[S. 616 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
-<DOC>
+S.616
-119th CONGRESS
-1st Session
-S. 616
+One Hundred Nineteenth Congress
-_______________________________________________________________________
+of the
-AN ACT
+United States of America
-To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter
-for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
+AT THE FIRST SESSION
+
+Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
+the third day of January, two thousand and twenty five
+
+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:
@@ -37,9 +36,7 @@
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
@@ -49,68 +46,59 @@
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.
+``(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.
+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--
+``(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.
+``(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.
+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
+``(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
@@ -119,9 +107,7 @@
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
@@ -129,20 +115,7 @@
Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
-Passed the Senate April 30, 2025.
+Speaker of the House of Representatives.
-Attest:
-
-Secretary.
-119th CONGRESS
-
-1st Session
-
-S. 616
-
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-AN ACT
-
-To amend title 36, United States Code, to revise the Federal charter
-for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association.
+Vice President of the United States and
+President of the Senate.
Cosponsors (1)
Members who signed on to support this bill.