Charities Amendment Act 2026

What this bill does

This bill updates Bermuda's charity laws to better align with international anti-money laundering standards. It changes how the government oversees charities, adds new penalties for non-compliance, and removes some old regulations while requiring charities to share more information with authorities.

If passed (voted YES)

• Charities must report salary details of their paid staff in their annual reports as required by the Registrar
• New $200 fines will apply to charities that file their annual reports more than 30 days late or fail to register as exempt charities within 30 days
• The Registrar can share charity information with foreign law enforcement agencies investigating money laundering or terrorism financing when requested

If rejected (voted NO)

• Charities would not be required to disclose staff salary information in their reports
• The current penalty system for late filings and registration would remain unchanged
• Information sharing with international law enforcement would be more limited under current rules

Who it affects

This primarily affects registered charities in Bermuda, their trustees, and paid staff whose salary information will now be reported. It also impacts the Registrar of Charities who gains new oversight powers and penalty enforcement abilities.