# Campaign Transparency Act - Plain Language Summary

Right now, political campaigns and committees only have to publicly report who gave them money if that donor contributed more than $200 in a calendar year. This bill would eliminate that $200 threshold entirely, meaning campaigns would have to report the names and details of every single person who donates to them, no matter how small the contribution.

Think of it this way: if you gave a candidate $50, your name, address, and donation amount would currently stay private. Under this bill, that information would become public record. The same goes for $25 donations, $10 donations, or even $1 donations. Every contribution would be tracked and disclosed. This applies to all federal elections—races for Congress, the Senate, and the presidency.

The supporters of this bill argue that complete transparency helps voters see exactly who is funding their candidates and whether politicians might be influenced by certain donors. Critics worry that it could discourage people from donating to causes they believe in because their contributions would be publicly visible, potentially exposing them to harassment or social pressure. The bill would take effect immediately once it becomes law, applying to all campaign finance reports filed after that date.