H.R. 4471 – Speech Privacy Act of 2023

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 9:40 AM UTC

The Speech Privacy Act of 2023 seeks to stop federal government agencies from collecting, requiring, or publicly releasing the identities of donors to tax‑exempt organizations, with limited exceptions. It defines tax‑exempt organizations under IRC 501(c) and specifically excludes political 527 groups. The bill applies to all federal entities and creates felony penalties, including fines up to $250,000, up to five years in prison, and dismissal for federal employees who willfully disclose donor information.

Key Provisions

Federal agencies may not collect or require donor identification for any tax‑exempt organization, except for the IRS (tax compliance), the Senate and House secretaries (lobbying disclosures), the FEC (election law), or when ordered by a court or authorized administrative body.
Federal agencies may not publicly disclose donor identities, with the same exceptions plus disclosure authorized by the donor‑receiving organization.
Defines “tax‑exempt organization” as those described in IRC section 501(c) and excludes 527 political organizations from this definition.
Violations are felonies punishable by fines up to $250,000, up to five years imprisonment, and for federal employees, dismissal from office.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

July 6, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 6, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

July 6, 2023

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 6, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4471

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 6, 2023

Mr. Armstrong introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability

A BILL

To prohibit an entity of the Federal Government from collecting or requiring the submission of information on the identification of any donor to a tax-exempt organization, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Speech Privacy Act of 2023.

2.

Protecting privacy of donors to tax-exempt organizations

(a)

Restrictions on collection of donor information

(1)

Restrictions

An entity of the Federal Government may not collect or require the submission of information on the identification of any donor to a tax-exempt organization.

(2)

Exceptions

Paragraph (1) does not apply to the following:

(A)

The Internal Revenue Service, acting lawfully pursuant to section 6033 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor provision.

(B)

The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting lawfully pursuant to section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604).

(C)

The Federal Election Commission, acting lawfully pursuant to section 510 of title 36, United States Code.

(D)

An entity acting pursuant to a lawful order of a court or administrative body which has the authority under law to direct the entity to collect or require the submission of the information, but only to the extent permitted by the lawful order of such court or administrative body.

(b)

Restrictions on release of donor information

(1)

Restrictions

An entity of the Federal Government may not disclose to the public information revealing the identification of any donor to a tax-exempt organization.

(2)

Exceptions

Paragraph (1) does not apply to the following:

(A)

The Internal Revenue Service, acting lawfully pursuant to section 6104 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor provision.

(B)

The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acting lawfully pursuant to section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604).

(C)

The Federal Election Commission, acting lawfully pursuant to section 510 of title 36, United States Code.

(D)

An entity acting pursuant to a lawful order of a court or administrative body which has the authority under law to direct the entity to disclose the information, but only to the extent permitted by the lawful order of such court or administrative body.

(E)

An entity which discloses the information as authorized by the organization.

(c)

Tax-Exempt organization defined

In this section, a tax-exempt organization means an organization which is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to treat a political organization under section 527 of such Code as a tax-exempt organization for purposes of this section.

(d)

Penalties

It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the United States, or any former officer or employee, willfully to disclose to any person, except as authorized in this section, any information revealing the identification of any donor to a tax-exempt organization. Any violation of this section shall be a felony punishable upon conviction by a fine in any amount not exceeding $250,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution, and if such offense is committed by any officer or employee of the United States, he shall, in addition to any other punishment, be dismissed from office or discharged from employment upon conviction for such offense.