H.R. 7418: Securing Tech and Election Administration Defenses For All States and Territories Act
The bill, known as the Securing Tech and Election Administration Defenses For All States and Territories Act (STEADFAST Act), proposes a significant change in the funding model for presidential election campaigns. Instead of financing presidential election campaigns directly through the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, the bill seeks to redirect these funds into a program that grants money to states for enhancing the security of election systems.
Key Features of the Bill
1. Establishment of an Election Security Program
The bill creates a new program under which the Election Assistance Commission will provide payments to eligible states. The aim of these payments is to improve the security of elections for federal offices. This includes:
- Upgrading voting systems to meet enhanced security standards.
- Acquiring new voting equipment.
- Implementing cybersecurity measures to protect voting systems.
- Providing physical security for storing voting equipment.
- Modernizing and replacing components of voting systems.
- Purchasing and securing paper ballots and electronic poll books.
2. Eligibility for Funding
States must meet certain criteria to be eligible for funding, which includes:
- Submitting a detailed plan for how the funds will be used.
- Certifying that noncitizens are not allowed to vote in elections held in the state.
- Committing to report back to the Commission on how funds were spent.
3. Payment Amounts
The funding amount a state receives is based on its registered voter population. This approach ensures that funds are allocated proportionally according to the number of voters in each state.
4. Establishment of the Election Security Fund
The bill establishes an Election Security Fund managed by the U.S. Treasury. This fund will be used specifically for the purposes outlined in the bill, including providing grants to states for election security enhancements. Administrative costs for operating the fund are capped at 5% of the total funds each fiscal year.
5. Termination of Presidential Election Campaign Funding
Once this bill is enacted, the existing Presidential Election Campaign Fund will be terminated, and funds from this source will instead be redirected to the newly established Election Security Fund. This includes any remaining funds in the account at the time of termination.
6. Requirement for Public Reporting
States receiving payments must provide a public report detailing how the funds were used and whether they adhered to their original plans submitted to the Commission.
7. Public Awareness and Information
The Election Assistance Commission will be responsible for publicizing information about the new program and how individuals can contribute to the Election Security Fund through their tax returns.
Relevant Companies
- SYMC - Symantec Corporation may see increased demand for its cybersecurity products as states seek to secure their voting systems.
- NEE - NextEra Energy might be indirectly affected if increased funding is allocated to energy security for election operations.
- BB - BlackBerry Limited could benefit from potential contracts related to securing electronic voting systems and data protection.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
5 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Feb. 09, 2026 | Introduced in House |
| Feb. 09, 2026 | Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
Corporate Lobbying
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