119-hr4910

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4910 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4910

 To establish a democracy advancement and innovation program, and for 
 other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 August 5, 2025

Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Johnson of Texas, 
 Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Veasey, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Mullin, Ms. 
 Ansari, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Brown, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Carson, Mr. Casten, 
 Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. 
Crockett, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Elfreth, Mr. Evans 
 of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fields, Mr. Figures, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. 
 Green of Texas, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. 
 Kamlager-Dove, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Lee of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Lynch, Ms. McClellan, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Meeks, Mr. 
Mfume, Mr. Min, Mr. Neguse, Ms. Norton, Ms. Plaskett, Ms. Salinas, Ms. 
 Schakowsky, Ms. Simon, Ms. Strickland, Mrs. Sykes, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. 
 Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko, and Mrs. 
 McClain Delaney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
 the Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish a democracy advancement and innovation program, and for 
 other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Sustaining Our 
Democracy Act''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
 TITLE I--PAYMENTS AND ALLOCATIONS TO STATES

Sec. 101. Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program.

Sec. 102. State plan.

Sec. 103. Prohibitions.

Sec. 104. Amount of State allocation.

Sec. 105. Procedures for disbursements of payments and allocations.

Sec. 106. Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation.
 TITLE II--STATE ELECTION ASSISTANCE AND INNOVATION TRUST FUND

Sec. 201. State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund.
 TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Definitions.

Sec. 302. Rule of construction regarding calculation of deadlines.

Sec. 303. Severability.

 TITLE I--PAYMENTS AND ALLOCATIONS TO STATES

SEC. 101. DEMOCRACY ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a program to be known as 
the ``Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program'' under which the 
Director of the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation shall 
make allocations to each State for each fiscal year to carry out 
democracy promotion activities described in subsection

    (b) .

    (b) Democracy Promotion Activities Described.--The democracy 
promotion activities described in this subsection are as follows:

    (1) Activities to promote innovation to improve efficiency 
 and smooth functioning in the administration of elections for 
 Federal office and to secure the infrastructure used in the 
 administration of such elections, including making upgrades to 
 voting equipment and voter registration systems, voter 
 registration and nonpartisan voter outreach activities, 
 securing voting locations, expanding polling places and the 
 availability of early and mail voting, and promoting 
 cybersecurity.

    (2) Activities to recruit, train, and retain nonpartisan 
 election officials and poll workers and to protect election 
 officials (both nonpartisan and those elected or appointed to 
 their position) from threats against them in the course of 
 their work administering Federal elections.

    (3) Activities to increase access to voting in elections 
 for Federal office by underserved communities, individuals with 
 disabilities, racial and language minority groups, individuals 
 entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and 
 Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and voters residing in 
 Indian lands.
            (c) Permitting States To Retain and Reserve Allocations for Future 
Use.--A State may retain and reserve an allocation received for a 
fiscal year to carry out democracy promotion activities in any 
subsequent fiscal year.
            (d) Requiring Submission and Approval of State Plan.--

    (1) In general.--A State shall receive an allocation under 
 the Program for a fiscal year if--
        (A) not later than 90 days before the first day of 
 the fiscal year, the chief State election official of 
 the State submits to the Director the State plan 
 described in 

section 102; and
        (B) not later than 45 days before the first day of 
 the fiscal year, the Director, in consultation with the 
 Election Assistance Commission as described in 
 paragraph

    (3) , determines that the State plan will 
 enable the State to carry out democracy promotion 
 activities and approves the plan.

    (2) Submission and approval of revised plan.--If the 
 Director does not approve the State plan as submitted by the 
 State under paragraph

    (1) with respect to a fiscal year, the 
 State shall receive a payment under the Program for the fiscal 
 year if, at any time prior to the end of the fiscal year--
        (A) the chief State election official of the State 
 submits a revised version of the State plan; and
        (B) the Director, in consultation with the Election 
 Assistance Commission as described in paragraph

    (3) , 
 determines that the revised version of the State plan 
 will enable the State to carry out democracy promotion 
 activities and approves the plan.

    (3) Election assistance commission consultation.--With 
 respect to a State plan submitted under paragraph

    (1) or a 
 revised plan submitted under paragraph

    (2) --
        (A) the Director shall, prior to making a 
 determination on approval of the plan, consult with the 
 Election Assistance Commission; and
        (B) the Election Assistance Commission shall submit 
 to the Director a written assessment with respect to 
 whether the proposed activities of the plan satisfy the 
 requirements of this Act.

    (4) Consultation with legislature.--The chief State 
 election official of the State shall develop the State plan 
 submitted under paragraph

    (1) and any revised plan submitted 
 under paragraph

    (2) in consultation with the majority party and 
 minority party leaders of each house of the State legislature.

    (5) Rules for states that do not submit a state plan.--If a 
 State fails to submit a State plan described in 

section 102 
 before the date required under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) , under rules 
 established by the Director--
        (A) for purposes of this title (other than 

section 104)--
            (i) each political subdivision within the 
 State shall be treated as a State for purposes 
 of this title (other than 

section 104); and
            (ii) in applying this title to such 
 political subdivision, any duties required of 
 the chief State election official shall be 
 undertaken by the executive official of such 
 political subdivision charged with the 
 administration of elections;
        (B) in applying this subsection to any political 
 subdivision of the State--
            (i) paragraph

    (1)
        (A) shall be applied by 
 substituting ``the first day of the fiscal 
 year'' for ``90 days before the first day of 
 the fiscal year'';
            (ii) paragraph

    (1)
        (B) shall be applied by 
 substituting ``30 days after the first day of 
 the fiscal year'' for ``45 days before the 
 first day of the fiscal year''; and
            (iii) paragraph

    (4) shall not apply; and
            (C) the amount of the allocation made to each such 
 political subdivision under the Program shall be the 
 sum of--
            (i) an amount which bears the same 
 proportion to the amount determined under 
 

section 104 with respect to the State in which 
 the political subdivision is located as--
            (I) the population of the political 
 subdivision; bears to
            (II) the population of such State; 
 plus
            (ii) an amount (not to exceed 100 percent 
 of the amount determined with respect to the 
 political subdivision under clause
            (i) ) which 
 bears the same proportion to the unsubscribed 
 funds of the State as--
            (I) the population of the political 
 subdivision; bears to
            (II) the population of the number 
 of political subdivisions within the 
 State that submitted a plan under 
 

section 102 before the date required 
 under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) (after 
 application of subparagraph
        (B) ).
 For purposes of subparagraph
            (C) 
            (ii) , the unsubscribed funds of 
 any State is the sum of the amounts described in subparagraph
            (C) 
            (i) with respect to political subdivisions in the State 
 which did not submit a plan under this subsection before the 
 date required under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) (after application of 
 subparagraph
        (B) ).

    (e) State Report on Use of Allocations.--Not later than 90 days 
after the last day of a fiscal year for which an allocation was made to 
the State under the Program, the chief State election official of the 
State shall submit a report to the Director describing how the State 
used the allocation, including a description of the democracy promotion 
activities the State carried out with the allocation.

    (f) Public Availability of Information.--

    (1) Publicly available website.--The Director shall make 
 available on a publicly accessible website the following:
        (A) State plans submitted under paragraph

    (1) of 
 subsection
            (d) and revised plans submitted under 
 paragraph

    (2) of subsection
            (d) .
        (B) The Director's notifications of determinations 
 with respect to such plans under subsection
            (d) .
            (C) Reports submitted by States under subsection

    (e) .

    (2) Redaction.--The Director may redact information 
 required to be made available under paragraph

    (1) if the 
 information would be properly withheld from disclosure under 
 

section 552 of title 5, United States Code, or if the public 
 disclosure of the information is otherwise prohibited by law.

    (g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to 
fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.

SEC. 102. STATE PLAN.

    (a) Contents.--A State plan under this section with respect to a 
State is a plan containing each of the following:

    (1) A description of the democracy promotion activities the 
 State will carry out with the payment made under the Program.

    (2) A statement of whether or not the State intends to 
 retain and reserve the payment for future democracy promotion 
 activities.

    (3) A statement of how the State intends to distribute 
 resources under the plan, including how the distribution of 
 resources will address geographic and racial disparities within 
 the State.

    (4) A description of how the State intends to allocate 
 funds to carry out the proposed activities, which shall include 
 the amount the State intends to allocate to each such activity, 
 including (if applicable) a specific allocation for--
        (A) activities described in subsection 101

    (b)

    (1) (relating to election administration);
        (B) activities described in 

section 101

    (b)

    (2) (relating to activities to recruit, train, retain, and 
 protect election workers); and
            (C) activities described in 

section 101

    (b)

    (3) (relating to activities to increase access to voting in 
 elections for Federal office by certain communities).

    (5) A description of how funds allocated under paragraph

    (4) will be allocated to political subdivisions of the State.

    (6) A description of how the State will establish the fund 
 described in subsection

    (b) for purposes of administering the 
 democracy promotion activities which the State will carry out 
 with the payment, including information on fund management.

    (7) A description of the State-based administrative 
 complaint procedures established for purposes of 

section 103

    (a)

    (2) .

    (8) A statement regarding whether the proposed activities 
 to be funded are permitted under State law, or whether the 
 official intends to seek legal authorization for such 
 activities.

    (b) Requirements for Fund.--

    (1) Fund described.--For purposes of subsection

    (a)

    (6) , a 
 fund described in this subsection with respect to a State is a 
 fund which is established in the treasury of the State 
 government, which is used in accordance with paragraph

    (2) , and 
 which consists of the following amounts:
        (A) Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
 available by the State for carrying out the democracy 
 promotion activities for which the payment is made to 
 the State under the Program.
        (B) The payment made to the State under the 
 Program.
            (C) Such other amounts as may be appropriated under 
 law.
            (D) Interest earned on deposits of the fund.

    (2) Use of fund.--Amounts in the fund shall be used by the 
 State exclusively to carry out democracy promotion activities 
 for which the payment is made to the State under the Program.

    (3) Treatment of states that require changes to state 
 law.--In the case of a State that requires State legislation to 
 establish the fund described in this subsection, the Director 
 shall defer disbursement of the payment to such State under the 
 Program until such time as legislation establishing the fund is 
 enacted.

SEC. 103. PROHIBITIONS.

    (a) Prohibited Uses of Payments.--

    (1) In general.--A State may not use a payment made under 
 the Program to carry out--
        (A) any activity described in paragraph

    (2) ; or
        (B) any other activity which has the purpose or 
 effect of diminishing the ability of any eligible voter 
 to participate in the electoral process.

    (2) Prohibited activities.--The following are activities 
 described in this paragraph:
        (A) Activities that intimidate, threaten, or coerce 
 voters, poll workers, or election administrators.
        (B) The restriction of the distribution of food or 
 nonalcoholic beverages to voters while waiting at 
 polling places (other than restrictions on 
 distributions made on the basis of the electoral 
 participation or political preference of the 
 recipient).
            (C) The removal of election administrators from 
 their positions other than for negligence, neglect of 
 duty, or malfeasance in office.
            (D) Defending against lawsuits alleging voter-
 suppression practices or proposed practices.
        (E) The investigation of claims of voter fraud 
 based on the mere invocation of interests in voter 
 confidence or prevention of fraud.
        (F) The performance of audits that--
            (i) fail to meet best practices established 
 by the Election Assistance Commission;
            (ii) fail to meet the requirements for 
 record retention under title III of the Civil 
 Rights Act of 1960 (52 U.S.C. 20701 et seq.); 
 or
            (iii) otherwise jeopardize election 
 records, voting equipment, electronic poll 
 books, or election management systems (as 
 defined under the voluntary guidance issued by 
 the Election Assistance Commission under 
 

section 311 of the Help America Vote Act of 
 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21101)).
        (G) The removal of voters from voter rolls based on 
 evidence that is not reliable.
        (H) Activities preventing individuals seeking to 
 have their right to vote or register to vote restored.
            (I) The purchase of voting machines that do not 
 require the use of individual voter-verifiable paper 
 ballots marked through the use of a nontabulating 
 ballot marking device or system.

    (b) State-Based Administrative Complaint Procedures.--

    (1) Establishment.--A State receiving a payment under the 
 Program shall establish uniform and nondiscriminatory State-
 based administrative complaint procedures under which any 
 person who believes that a violation of subsection

    (a) has 
 occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur may file a 
 complaint.

    (2) Notification to director.--The State shall transmit to 
 the Director a description of each complaint filed under the 
 procedures, together with--
        (A) if the State provides a remedy with respect to 
 the complaint, a description of the remedy; or
        (B) if the State dismisses the complaint, a 
 statement of the reasons for the dismissal.

    (3) Review by director.--
        (A) Request for review.--Any person who is 
 dissatisfied with the final decision under a State-
 based administrative complaint procedure under this 
 subsection may, not later than 60 days after the 
 decision is made, file a request with the Director to 
 review the decision.
        (B) Action by director.--Upon receiving a request 
 under subparagraph
        (A) , the Director shall review the 
 decision and, in accordance with such procedures as the 
 Director may establish, including procedures to provide 
 notice and an opportunity for a hearing, may uphold the 
 decision or reverse the decision and provide an 
 appropriate remedy.
            (C) Public availability of material.--The Director 
 shall make available on a publicly accessible website 
 all material relating to a request for review and 
 determination by the Director under this paragraph, 
 except that the Director may redact material required 
 to be made available under this subparagraph if the 
 material would be properly withheld from disclosure 
 under 

section 552 of title 5, United States Code, or if 
 the public disclosure of the material is otherwise 
 prohibited by law.

    (4) Right to petition for review.--
        (A) In general.--Any person aggrieved by an action 
 of the Director under subparagraph
        (B) of paragraph

    (3) may file a petition with the United States District 
 Court for the District of Columbia.
        (B) Deadline to file petition.--Any petition under 
 this subparagraph shall be filed not later than 60 days 
 after the date of the action taken by the Director 
 under subparagraph
        (B) of paragraph

    (3) .
            (C) Standard of review.--In any proceeding under 
 this paragraph, the court shall determine whether the 
 action of the Director was arbitrary, capricious, an 
 abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance 
 with law under 

section 706 of title 5, United States 
 Code, and may direct the Office to conform with any 
 such determination within 30 days.
            (c) Action by Attorney General for Declaratory and Injunctive 
Relief.--The Attorney General may bring a civil action against any 
State in an appropriate United States District Court for such 
declaratory and injunctive relief (including a temporary restraining 
order, a permanent or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be 
necessary to enforce subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 104. AMOUNT OF STATE ALLOCATION.

    (a) State-Specific Amount.--The amount of the allocation made to a 
State under the Program for a fiscal year shall be equal to the product 
of--

    (1) the Congressional district allocation amount 
 (determined under subsection

    (b) ); and

    (2) the number of Congressional districts in the State for 
 the next regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
 office held in the State.

    (b) Congressional District Allocation Amount.--For purposes of 
subsection

    (a) , the ``Congressional district allocation amount'' with 
respect to a fiscal year is equal to the quotient of--

    (1) the aggregate amount available for allocations to 
 States under the Program for the fiscal year, as determined by 
 the Director under subsection
            (c) ; divided by

    (2) the total number of Congressional districts in all 
 States.
            (c) Determination of Aggregate Amount Available for Allocations; 
Notification to States.--Not later than 120 days before the first day 
of each fiscal year, the Director--

    (1) shall determine and establish the aggregate amount 
 available for allocations to States under the Program for the 
 fiscal year, taking into account the anticipated balances of 
 the Trust Fund (including any amounts appropriated pursuant to 
 

section 106
            (i) ); and

    (2) shall notify each State of the amount of the State's 
 allocation under the Program for the fiscal year.
In making the determination under paragraph

    (1) , the Director shall 
consult with the Election Assistance Commission, but shall be solely 
responsible for making the final determinations under such paragraph.
            (d) Source of Payments.--The amounts used to make allocations and 
payments under the Program shall be derived solely from the Trust Fund.

SEC. 105. PROCEDURES FOR DISBURSEMENTS OF PAYMENTS AND ALLOCATIONS.

    (a) Allocation.--Upon approving the State plan under 

section 102, 
the Director shall direct the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate to 
the Election Assistance Commission the amount provided for activities 
under the plan.

    (b) Payment to State.--As soon as practicable after receiving an 
allocation under subsection

    (a) with respect to a State, the Election 
Assistance Commission shall make payments to--

    (1) local election administrators in the State with respect 
 to amounts related to activities in the State plan carried out 
 directly by such local election administrators; and

    (2) the State with respect to any amount not described in 
 paragraph

    (1) .
            (c) Continuing Availability of Funds After Appropriation.--A 
payment made to a State by the Election Assistance Commission under 
this section shall be available without fiscal year limitation.

SEC. 106. OFFICE OF DEMOCRACY ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established as an independent 
establishment in the executive branch the Office of Democracy 
Advancement and Innovation.

    (b) Director.--

    (1) In general.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
 who shall be appointed by the President with the advice and 
 consent of the Senate.

    (2) Term of service.--The Director shall serve for a term 
 of 6 years and may be reappointed to an additional term, and 
 may continue serving as Director until a replacement is 
 appointed. A vacancy in the position of Director shall be 
 filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

    (3) Compensation.--The Director shall be paid at an annual 
 rate of pay equal to the annual rate in effect for level II of 
 the Executive Schedule.

    (4) Removal.--The Director may be removed from office by 
 the President. If the President removes the Director, the 
 President shall communicate in writing the reasons for the 
 removal to both Houses of Congress not later than 30 days 
 beforehand. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to 
 prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by law.
            (c) General Counsel and Other Staff.--

    (1) General counsel.--The Director shall appoint a general 
 counsel who shall be paid at an annual rate of pay equal to the 
 annual rate in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule. 
 In the event of a vacancy in the position of the Director, the 
 General Counsel shall exercise all the responsibilities of the 
 Director until such vacancy is filled.

    (2) Senior staff.--The Director may appoint and fix the pay 
 of staff designated as Senior staff, such as a Deputy Director, 
 who may be paid at an annual rate of pay equal to the annual 
 rate in effect for level IV of the Executive Schedule.

    (3) Other staff.--In addition to the General Counsel and 
 Senior staff, the Director may appoint and fix the pay of such 
 other staff as the Director considers necessary to carry out 
 the duties of the Office, except that no such staff may be 
 compensated at an annual rate exceeding the daily equivalent of 
 the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-15 of the 
 General Schedule.
            (d) Duties.--The duties of the Office are as follows:

    (1) Administration of program.--The Director shall 
 administer the Program, in consultation with the Election 
 Assistance Commission, including by holding quarterly meetings 
 of representatives from such Commission.

    (2) Oversight of trust fund.--The Director shall oversee 
 the operation of the Trust Fund and monitor its balances, in 
 consultation with the Election Assistance Commission and the 
 Secretary of the Treasury. The Director may hold funds in 
 reserve to cover the expenses of the Office and to preserve the 
 solvency of the Trust Fund.

    (3) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
 regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in 
 2026 and each succeeding regularly scheduled general election 
 for Federal office thereafter, the Director, in consultation 
 with the Election Assistance Commission, shall submit to the 
 Committee on House Administration of the House of 
 Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
 of the Senate a report on the activities carried out under the 
 Program and the amounts deposited into and paid from the Trust 
 Fund during the two most recent fiscal years.

    (e) Coverage Under Inspector General Act of 1978 for Conducting 
Audits and Investigations.--

    (1) In general.--

Section 415

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) of title 5, United 
 States Code, is amended by inserting ``the Office of Democracy 
 Advancement and Innovation,'' after ``Election Assistance 
 Commission,''.

    (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph

    (1) shall take effect 180 days after the appointment of the 
 Director.

    (f) Coverage Under Hatch Act.--Clause
            (i) of 

section 7323

    (b)

    (2)
        (B) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subclause
            (XIII) ; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
 ``
            (XV) the Office of Democracy Advancement and 
 Innovation; or''.

    (g) Regulations.--

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , not 
 later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
 the Director shall promulgate such rules and regulations as the 
 Director considers necessary and appropriate to carry out the 
 duties of the Office under this Act and the amendments made by 
 this Act.

    (2) State plan submission and approval and distribution of 
 funds.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
 of this Act, the Director shall promulgate such rules and 
 regulations as the Director considers necessary and appropriate 
 to carry out the requirements of this title and the amendments 
 made by this title.

    (3) Comments by the election assistance commission.--The 
 Election Assistance Commission shall timely submit comments 
 with respect to any proposed regulations promulgated by the 
 Director under this subsection.

    (h) Interim Authority Pending Appointment and Confirmation of 
Director.--

    (1) Authority of director of office of management and 
 budget.--Notwithstanding subsection

    (b) , during the transition 
 period, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget is 
 authorized to perform the functions of the Office under this 
 Act, and shall act for all purposes as, and with the full 
 powers of, the Director.

    (2) Interim administrative services.--
        (A) Authority of office of management and budget.--
 During the transition period, the Director of the 
 Office of Management and Budget may provide 
 administrative services necessary to support the 
 Office.
        (B) Termination of authority; permitting 
 extension.--The Director of the Office of Management 
 and Budget shall cease providing interim administrative 
 services under this paragraph upon the expiration of 
 the transition period, except that the Director of the 
 Office of Management and Budget may continue to provide 
 such services after the expiration of the transition 
 period if the Director and the Director of the Office 
 of Management and Budget jointly transmit to the 
 Committee on House Administration of the House of 
 Representatives and the Committee on Rules and 
 Administration of the Senate--
            (i) a written determination that an orderly 
 implementation of this Act is not feasible by 
 the expiration of the transition period;
            (ii) an explanation of why an extension is 
 necessary for the orderly implementation of 
 this Act;
            (iii) a description of the period during 
 which the Director of the Office of Management 
 and Budget shall continue providing services 
 under the authority of this subparagraph; and
            (iv) a description of the steps that will 
 be taken to ensure an orderly and timely 
 implementation of this Act during the period 
 described in clause
            (iii) .

    (3) Transition period defined.--In this subsection, the 
 ``transition period'' is the period which begins on the date of 
 the enactment of this Act and ends on the date on which the 
 first Director is appointed.

    (4) Limit on length of period of interim authorities.--
 Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the 
 Director of the Office of Management and Budget may not 
 exercise any authority under this subsection after the 
 expiration of the 24-month period which begins on the date of 
 the enactment of this Act.
            (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated from the Trust Fund such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out the activities of the Office for fiscal year 2026 and each 
succeeding fiscal year.

 TITLE II--STATE ELECTION ASSISTANCE AND INNOVATION TRUST FUND

SEC. 201. STATE ELECTION ASSISTANCE AND INNOVATION TRUST FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a fund to 
be known as the ``State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust 
Fund''.

    (b) Contents.--There is hereby appropriated to the Trust Fund 
$2,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.
            (c) Use of Funds.--Amounts in the Trust Fund shall be used to make 
payments and allocations under the Program and to carry out the 
activities of the Office.
            (d) Acceptance of Gifts.--The Office may accept gifts or bequests 
for deposit into the Trust Fund.

 TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act, the following definitions apply:

    (1) The term ``chief State election official'' has the 
 meaning given such term in 

section 253

    (e) of the Help America 
 Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21003

    (e) ).

    (2) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office.

    (3) The term ``Indian lands'' includes--
        (A) Indian country, as defined under 

section 1151 
 of title 18, United States Code;
        (B) any land in Alaska owned, pursuant to the 
 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et 
 seq.), by an Indian Tribe that is a Native village (as 
 defined in 

section 3 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)) or 
 by a Village Corporation that is associated with an 
 Indian Tribe (as defined in 

section 3 of that Act (43 
 U.S.C. 1602));
            (C) any land on which the seat of the Tribal 
 government is located; and
            (D) any land that is part or all of a Tribal 
 designated statistical area associated with an Indian 
 Tribe, or is part or all of an Alaska Native village 
 statistical area associated with an Indian Tribe, as 
 defined by the Census Bureau for the purposes of the 
 most recent decennial census.

    (4) The term ``Office'' means the Office of Democracy 
 Advancement and Innovation established under 

section 105.

    (5) The term ``Program'' means the Democracy Advancement 
 and Innovation Program established under 

section 101.

    (6) The term ``State'' means each of the several States, 
 the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
 Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

    (7) The term ``Trust Fund'' means the State Election 
 Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund established under 

section 201.

SEC. 302. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING CALCULATION OF DEADLINES.

    (a) In General.--With respect to the calculation of any period of 
time for the purposes of a deadline in this Act, the last day of the 
period shall be included in such calculation, unless such day is a 
Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal public holiday, in which case the period 
of such deadline shall be extended until the end of the next day which 
is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal public holiday.

    (b) Legal Public Holiday Defined.--For the purposes of this 
section, the term ``legal public holiday'' means a day described in 

section 6103

    (a) of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 303. SEVERABILITY.

 If any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, or 
the application of any such provision or amendment to any person or 
circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of such Act 
and amendments made by such Act and the application of such provision 
or amendment to any other person or circumstance, shall not be affected 
by the holding.
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