H.R. 9897House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Trump-Reagan Election Enforcement Act

Introduced July 23, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 30, 2026 at 11:12 AM UTC

The Trump‑Reagan Election Enforcement Act would tie a portion of federal surface‑transportation money to states’ adoption of strict proof‑of‑citizenship rules for registering to vote in federal elections. States that fail to pass the required laws would lose 10% of their allocated funds, with an extra 5% cut each subsequent year, and could face civil and criminal penalties for officials who register non‑citizens.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Transportation would withhold 10% of a state's surface‑transportation funding starting FY 2027, adding another 5% each year, if the state does not have the required voter‑registration laws.
  • States must require applicants for federal election registration to show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a REAL ID‑compliant ID, passport, military ID with service record, or other government‑issued ID plus supporting documents like a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
  • States must create an alternative process for applicants who cannot meet the primary documentation requirement to still prove citizenship.
  • States must run an ongoing program to identify and remove non‑citizens from voter rolls.
  • For mail‑in voter‑registration forms, states must require applicants to appear in person with proof of citizenship before the registration deadline, and must notify applicants of this requirement.
  • The law creates a private right of action against election officials who register someone without the required proof, and it mandates criminal penalties for officials who do so.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

July 23, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 23, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

July 23, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 23, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9897

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2026

Ms. Boebert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 23, United States Code, to withhold apportioned surface transportation funding from a State if such State fails to enact certain requirements for proof of citizenship for individuals to register to vote in Federal elections, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Trump-Reagan Election Enforcement Act.

2.

Withholding of Federal funds

(a)

In general

Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

180.

Election requirements

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall withhold 10 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under section 104(b) on the first day of each fiscal year that begins after fiscal year 2026, and an additional 5 percent each fiscal year thereafter, if the State does not have laws in effect as described in subsection (b).

(b)

Enacted laws required

The laws described in this subsection are as follows:

(1)

The State may not accept or process an application to register to vote in a Federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship with one of the following:

(A)

A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States.

(B)

A valid United States passport.

(C)

The applicant's official United States military identification card, together with a United States military record of service showing that the applicant's place of birth was in the United States.

(D)

A valid government-issued photo identification card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal government showing that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.

(E)

A valid government-issued photo identification card issued by a Federal, State or Tribal government other than an identification described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), but only if presented together with one or more of the following:

(i)

A certified birth certificate issued by a State, a unit of local government in a State, or a Tribal government which—

(I)

was issued by the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government in which the applicant was born;

(II)

was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the State;

(III)

includes the full name, date of birth, and place of birth of the applicant;

(IV)

lists the full names of one or both of the parents of the applicant;

(V)

has the signature of an individual who is authorized to sign birth certificates on behalf of the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government in which the applicant was born;

(VI)

includes the date that the certificate was filed with the office responsible for keeping vital records in the State; and has the seal of the State, unit of local government, or Tribal government that issued the birth certificate.

(ii)

An extract from a United States hospital Record of Birth created at the time of the applicant's birth which indicates that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.

(iii)

A final adoption decree showing the applicant’s name and that the applicant’s place of birth was in the United States.

(iv)

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a citizen of the United States or a certification of the applicant’s Report of Birth of a United States citizen issued by the Secretary of State.

(v)

A Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security or any other document or method of proof of United States citizenship issued by the Federal Government pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(vi)

An American Indian Card issued by the Department of Homeland Security with the classification ‘KIC’.

(2)

The State shall have established an alternative process under which an applicant who is not able to meet the requirements of the law described in paragraph (1) may submit evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.

(3)

The State shall require affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens.

(4)

The States shall require individuals who submit a mail voter registration application to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person to the office of the appropriate election official not later than the deadline provided by State law for the receipt of a completed voter registration application for the election. Upon receiving an otherwise completed mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission, the appropriate election official shall transmit a notice to the applicant of the requirement to present documentary proof of United States citizenship and shall include in the notice instructions to enable the applicant to meet the requirement.

(5)

The State shall remove noncitizens from official lists of eligible voters.

(6)

The states shall permit the private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a Federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

(7)

The State shall establish criminal penalties for registering an applicant to vote in a Federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

180. Election requirements.

.