FEC Retires Legacy Search System SERS, Launches New Rulemaking Search Tool
Summary
The FEC retired its Searchable Electronic Rulemaking System (SERS) on April 23, 2026, and deployed a new rulemaking search system at fec.gov/legal/search/rulemakings/. The new system offers search by regulation number, document type, date, keyword, Boolean operators, and proximity filters. The agency also reported activity on multiple court cases including Bernegger v. FEC, Giffords v. FEC, and McDonald v. FEC, and announced upcoming webinars for membership organizations, labor organizations, and trade associations.
“On April 23, the Commission retired the Searchable Electronic Rulemaking System (SERS).”
About this source
GovPing monitors FEC Updates for new government & legislation regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 20 changes logged to date.
What changed
The FEC announced the retirement of its legacy Searchable Electronic Rulemaking System (SERS) on April 23, 2026, replacing it with a new, mobile-accessible rulemaking search system featuring keyword search, Boolean operators, and proximity filters. This is an administrative/IT upgrade rather than a regulatory change. The weekly update also catalogued active litigation including filings in Bernegger v. FEC, Campbell v. FEC, Giffords v. FEC, Llop v. FEC, and McDonald v. FEC, along with upcoming webinar dates for PAC filers and updated 2026 reporting schedules.
Affected parties including corporations, labor organizations, trade associations, and their PACs should note the new search URL for accessing FEC rulemaking documents. Filers should reference the updated 2026 reporting dates and upcoming educational webinars to ensure compliance with filing requirements. The litigation updates indicate ongoing court challenges to FEC actions that may affect future regulatory interpretation.
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
Website Initiatives
On April 23, the Commission retired the Searchable Electronic Rulemaking System (SERS). As its replacement, the Commission has deployed a new rulemaking search system on the agency’s website. The new system provides fast, comprehensive access to FEC rulemaking documents and is easily accessible via mobile devices. Users can search rulemaking documents by regulation number, document type, date, and more. Advanced search capabilities include keyword and Boolean options and proximity filters that allow users to search for terms or phrases that appear within a set distance from one another. More information about the FEC’s legal search system capabilities is available in the FEC’s Legal Research Guide.
Litigation
Bernegger v. FEC (Case No. 25-4559) On April 20, Plaintiff filed a Declaration in Support of Request for Clerk's Entry of Default Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Campbell v. FEC (Case No. 26-10849) On March 12, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Giffords v. FEC (Case No. 25-5188) On April 20, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral argument in the case.
Llop v. FEC (Case No. 26-51) On January 7, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
McDonald v. FEC (Case No. 25-10830) On April 23, Amicus Curiae People United for Privacy Foundation filed a Motion for Leave to File Brief in Support of Appellant’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc and a Proposed Brief in Support of Appellant’s Petition for Rehearing En Banc in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Outreach
On April 21-22, the Commission hosted a webinar for corporations and their PACs.
Press releases
FEC retires legacy Searchable Electronic Rulemaking System (SERS) (issued April 23)
Reports Due in 2026
The Commission has posted the 2026 Congressional Pre-Election Reporting Dates. Reporting schedules for all filers in 2026 are also available.
Election Dates
The Commission has posted a list of 2026 Congressional Primary Dates.
Upcoming educational opportunities
May 12-13, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a webinar for membership and labor organizations and their PACs.
June 2-3, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a webinar for trade associations and their PACs.
For more information on upcoming training opportunities, see the Commission’s Trainings page.
Upcoming reporting due dates
May 20: May Monthly Reports are due. For more information, see the 2026 Monthly Reporting schedule.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the California 1st District Special General Election, scheduled for June 2, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for August 4, 2026.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the California 14th District Special General Election, scheduled for June 16, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for August 18, 2026.
Additional research materials
Contribution Limits: In addition to the current limits, the Commission has posted an archive of contribution limits that were in effect going back to the 1975-1976 election cycles.
Federal election results are available. The data was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.
FEC Notify: Want to be notified by email when campaign finance reports are received by the agency? Sign up here.
The Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available. This publication identifies the federal and state agencies responsible for the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying, personal finances, public financing, candidates on the ballot, election results, spending on state initiatives, and other financial filings.
The Presidential Election Campaign Fund Tax Checkoff Chart provides information on balance of the Fund, monthly deposits into the Fund reported by the Department of the Treasury, payments from the Fund as certified by the FEC, and participation rates of taxpayers as reported by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information on the Presidential Public Funding Program, see the Public Funding of Presidential Elections page.
The FEC Record is available as a continuously updated online news source.
Join the FEC on X and YouTube
Follow @FEC on X to receive the latest information on agency updates, news releases, and weekly activity. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, FECTube: FECConnect on Demand, to watch instructional videos that have been designed to help candidates and committees comply with federal campaign finance laws. Note that the FEC is not currently available through other social media platforms. The use of the agency’s logo, name, and likeness on other media has not been authorized by the FEC.
Contact
- Myles Martin
- Deputy Press Officer
Read next:
Week of April 13 – 17, 2026
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This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.
The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.
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