An RNC member from Mississippi, Henry Barbour, has put forward two resolutions seeking to limit the Republican National Committee (RNC) from using party funds to cover legal expenses for candidates running for federal or state office. The draft resolutions, exclusively revealed by The Dispatch, are set to be discussed during the RNC meeting scheduled for March 7-9 in Houston.

The first resolution aims to prevent the RNC from paying for legal bills of any candidates, while the second resolution proposes that the party remains neutral during the Presidential primary, restricting the committee from hiring staff from active presidential campaigns until a nominee is decided.

Barbour acknowledges that the chances of his resolutions passing are slim, but emphasizes that it is about making a statement rather than expecting their adoption. To advance the resolutions for a full committee vote, Barbour would need two cosponsors from 10 different states by Tuesday.

Meanwhile, amidst these discussions, current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel is anticipated to step down from her role at the upcoming meeting, with Trump-backed North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley poised to succeed her as chair. As for the vice chair position, it is expected to be filled by Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump.

Trump, who has largely financed his legal fees using donor funds from the Save America political action committee, faces a diminishing reserve of funds from the group, which reportedly spent over $47 million on his legal expenses in 2023. Barbour emphasized that the RNC's primary focus should be on winning elections rather than footing the legal bills of individual candidates.

Although Barbour's resolutions are non-binding, the upcoming RNC meeting presents an opportunity for members to deliberate on the extent of party involvement in funding legal defenses for candidates. Addressing concerns raised within the party, Barbour's proposals reflect broader discussions on the allocation of party resources and neutrality ahead of the Presidential primary.