WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appellate court panel has overturned campaign finance rules that limited how nonprofits spent money in political campaigns.

Three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington agreed with Emily’s List, a nonprofit that backs women Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, that the regulations limited free speech rights. The Federal Election Commission enacted the regulations in 2005, after concerns were raised about the amount of unlimited “soft money” contributions used to fund attacks in the 2004 election.

The FEC said nonprofits would have to pay for political activities involving federal candidates using limited “hard money” contributions. Individuals are only allowed to donate up to $5,000 annually to a nonprofit that indicates it plans to use the money to support or defeat a federal candidate.