S. 616 · Signed into law · Law

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2025

Sponsor: John Kennedy (R-LA)

What it does

• Remove the requirement that the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association be incorporated and domiciled in the District of Columbia, allowing the board of directors to choose the location of the principal office.
• Transfer governance authority from the federal charter to the organization's bylaws for membership terms, board responsibilities, and officer elections.
• Prohibit directors, officers, members, and employees from contributing to, supporting, or participating in political activities in their corporate capacity.
• Permit the organization to reasonably compensate or reimburse officers, directors, members, and employees, and to award grants to Federal Bar Association chapters.
• Specify that remaining assets upon dissolution be distributed as determined by the board of directors rather than deposited in the U.S. Treasury.

Official summary

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…

Latest action

Dec 12, 2025: Became Public Law No: 119-57.

Committee: Senate Judiciary