112 S1498 RS: Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act
U.S. Senate
2025-12-10
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
II
Calendar No. 294
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1498
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 28, 2025
Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Moreno, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
December 10, 2025
Reported by Mr. Paul, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To amend chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit transactions involving certain financial instruments by Members of Congress.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act”.
2.

Banning insider trading in Congress
(a)

In general
Chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“IV

Banning insider trading in Congress
13161.

Definitions
In this subchapter:
(1)

Covered financial instrument
(A)

In general
The term covered financial instrument means—
(i)
any investment in—
(I)
a security (as defined in section 3(a) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)));
(II)
a security future (as defined in that section); or
(III)
a commodity (as defined in section 1a of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a)); and
(ii)
any economic interest comparable to an interest described in clause (i) that is acquired through synthetic means, such as the use of a derivative, including an option, a warrant, or other similar means.
(B)

Exclusions
The term covered financial instrument does not include—
(i)
a diversified mutual fund;
(ii)
a diversified exchange-traded fund;
(iii)
a United States Treasury bill, note, or bond; or
(iv)
compensation from the primary occupation of a spouse or dependent child of a Member of Congress.
(2)

Dependent child; Member of Congress
The terms “dependent child” and Member of Congress have the meanings given those terms in section 13101.
(3)

Supervising ethics committee
The term “supervising ethics committee” means, as applicable—
(A)
the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives.
13162.

Prohibition on certain transactions and holdings involving covered financial instruments
(a)

Prohibition
Except as provided in subsection (b), a Member of Congress, or any spouse of a Member of Congress, may not, during the term of service of the Member of Congress, hold, purchase, or sell any covered financial instrument.
(b)

Exceptions
The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to a sale by a Member of Congress, or a spouse of a Member of Congress, that is completed by the date that is—
(1)
for a Member of Congress serving on the date of enactment of the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, 180 days after that date of enactment; and
(2)
for any Member of Congress who commences service as a Member of Congress after the date of enactment of the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, 180 days after the first date of the initial term of service.
(c)

Penalties
(1)

Disgorgement
A Member of Congress shall disgorge to the Treasury of the United States any profit from a transaction or holding involving a covered financial instrument that is conducted in violation of this section.
(2)

Fines
A Member of Congress who holds or conducts a transaction involving, or whose spouse holds or conducts a transaction involving, a covered financial instrument in violation of this section may be subject to a civil fine assessed by the applicable supervising ethics committee under section 13164.
13163.

Certification of compliance
(a)

In general
Not less frequently than annually, each Member of Congress shall submit to the applicable supervising ethics committee a written certification that the Member of Congress has achieved compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.
(b)

Publication
The supervising ethics committees shall publish each certification submitted under subsection (a) on a publicly available website.
13164.

Authority of supervising ethics committees
(a)

In general
The supervising ethics committees may implement and enforce the requirements of this subchapter, including by—
(1)
issuing—
(A)
for Members of Congress—
(i)
rules governing that implementation; and
(ii)
1 or more reasonable extensions to achieve compliance with this subchapter, if the applicable supervising ethics committee determines that a Member of Congress is making a good faith effort to divest any covered financial instruments; and
(B)
guidance relating to covered financial instruments;
(2)
publishing on the internet certifications submitted by Members of Congress under section 13163(a); and
(3)
assessing civil fines against any Member of Congress who is in violation of this subchapter, subject to subsection (b).
(b)

Requirements for civil fines
(1)

In general
Before imposing a fine pursuant to this section, the applicable supervising ethics committee shall provide to the applicable Member of Congress—
(A)
a written notice describing each covered financial instrument transaction for which a fine will be assessed; and
(B)
an opportunity, with respect to each such covered financial instrument transaction—
(i)
for a hearing; and
(ii)
to achieve compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.
(2)

Enforcement
(A)

In general
In the event of continuing noncompliance after issuance of the notice described in paragraph (1), the applicable supervising ethics committee shall impose a civil penalty, in the amount described in subparagraph (B), on the Member of Congress to whom a notice was provided—
(i)
on the date that is 30 days after the date of provision of the notice; and
(ii)
during the period in which such noncompliance continues, not less frequently than once every 30 days thereafter.
(B)

Amount
The amount of each civil penalty imposed on a Member of Congress pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be an amount equal to 10 percent of the value of each covered financial instrument that was not divested in violation of this subchapter during the period covered by the penalty.
(3)

Publication
Each supervising ethics committee shall publish on a publicly available website a description of—
(A)
each fine assessed by the supervising ethics committee pursuant to this section;
(B)
the reasons why each such fine was assessed; and
(C)
the result of each assessment, including any hearing under paragraph (1)(B)(i) relating to the assessment.
(4)

Appeal
A Member of Congress may appeal the assessment of a fine under this section to a vote on the floor of the Senate or the House of Representatives, as applicable, as a privileged motion.
13165.

Audit by Government Accountability Office
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
(1)
conduct an audit of the compliance by Members of Congress with the requirements of this subchapter; and
(2)
submit to the supervising ethics committees a report describing the results of the audit conducted under paragraph (1).”.
(b)

Conforming amendments
(1)

Table of sections
The table of sections for chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“SUBCHAPTER IV—Banning insider trading in Congress
13161. Definitions.
13162. Prohibition on certain transactions and holdings involving covered financial instruments.
13163. Certification of compliance.
13164. Authority of supervising ethics committees.
13165. Audit by Government Accountability Office.”.
(2)

Persons required to file
Section 13103(f) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (9), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”;
(B)
in paragraph (10), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”;
(C)
in paragraph (11), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”; and
(D)
in paragraph (12), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”.
(3)

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Section 3(4)(D) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(4)(D)) is amended by striking “legislative branch employee serving in a position described under section 13101(13) of title 5, United States Code” and inserting “officer or employee of Congress (as defined in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code)”.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act”.
2.

Divestment of certain assets of Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children
(a)

In general
Chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“IV

Certain assets of Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children
13161.

Definitions
In this subchapter:
(1)

Commodity
The term commodity has the meaning given the term in section 1a of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a).
(2)

Covered investment
(A)

In general
The term covered investment means—
(i)
an investment in—
(I)
a security;
(II)
a commodity;
(III)
a future; or
(IV)
a digital asset;
(ii)
any economic interest comparable to an interest described in clause (i) that is acquired through synthetic means, such as the use of a derivative, including an option, warrant, or other similar means; or
(iii)
any interest described in clause (i) or (ii) that is held directly, or in which an individual has an indirect, beneficial, or economic interest, through—
(I)
an investment fund or holding company;
(II)
a trust;
(III)
an employee benefit plan; or
(IV)
a deferred compensation plan, including a carried interest or other agreement tied to the performance of an investment, other than a fixed cash payment.
(B)

Exclusions
The term covered investment does not include—
(i)
a diversified mutual fund (including any holdings of such a fund);
(ii)
a diversified exchange-traded fund (including any holdings of such a fund);
(iii)
a United States Treasury bill, note, or bond;
(iv)
compensation from the primary occupation of the spouse of a covered person, or any security that is issued or paid by an operating business that is the primary employer of such a spouse that is issued or paid to such a spouse;
(v)
holding and acquiring any security that is issued or paid as compensation from corporate board service by the spouse of a covered person, including the dividend reinvestment in the same security received from the corporate board service by the spouse of a covered person;
(vi)
any covered investment that is traded by the spouse of a covered person in the course of performing the primary occupation of such a spouse, provided the investment is not owned by a covered person or the spouse or dependent child of a covered person;
(vii)
any investment fund held in a Federal, State, or local government employee retirement plan;
(viii)
a tax-free State or municipal bond;
(ix)
an interest in a small business concern, if the supervising ethics office determines that the small business concern does not present a conflict of interest, and, in the case of an investment in a family farm or ranch that qualifies as an interest in a small business concern, a future or commodity directly related to the farming activities and products of the farm or ranch;
(x)
holding investment-grade corporate bonds, provided that the corporate bonds are held by an individual who is a covered person, or a spouse or dependent child of a covered person, on the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act;
(xi)
any share of Settlement Common Stock issued under section 7(g)(1)(A) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606(g)(1)(A)); or
(xii)
any share of Settlement Common Stock, as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).
(C)

Rule of construction
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to imply that particular digital assets are not securities, commodities, or other types of covered investments.
(3)

Covered person
The term covered person means—
(A)
a Member of Congress;
(B)
the President of the United States; or
(C)
the Vice President of the United States.
(4)

Custody
The term custody has the meaning given the term in section 275.206(4)–2(d) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act (or any successor regulation).
(5)

Dependent child
The term “dependent child” means, with respect to any covered person, any individual who is—
(A)
under 19 years of age; and
(B)
a dependent of the covered person within the meaning of section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(6)

Digital asset
The term digital asset means any digital representation of value that is recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger or any similar technology.
(7)

Diversified
The term diversified, with respect to a fund, trust, or plan, means that the fund, trust, or plan does not have a stated policy of concentrating its investments in any single industry, business, or single country other than the United States.
(8)

Future
The term future means—
(A)
a security future (as defined in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a))); and
(B)
any other contract for the sale of a commodity for future delivery.
(9)

Illiquid investment
The term illiquid investment means an interest in a private fund, as defined in section 202(a) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b–2(a)).
(10)

Interested party
The term interested party has the meaning given the term in section 13104(f)(3)(E).
(11)

Member of Congress; supervising ethics office
The terms Member of Congress and “supervising ethics office” have the meanings given those terms in section 13101.
(12)

Qualified blind trust
The term qualified blind trust has the meaning given the term in section 13104(f)(3).
(13)

Security
The term security has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)).
(14)

Small business concern
The term “small business concern” has the meaning given the term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
13162.

Trading covered investments
(a)

Ban on trading
Except as provided in subsection (b)—
(1)
effective on the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, a covered person shall not purchase any covered investment;
(2)
effective on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, a covered person shall not sell any covered investment, except as provided in section 13163(a)(1); and
(3)
on and after the applicable effective date described in section 13163(j), an individual who is a spouse or dependent child of a covered person shall not purchase any covered investment or sell any covered investment, except as provided in section 13163(a)(1).
(b)

Exception
Notwithstanding subsection (a), a covered person may divest a covered investment as directed by the relevant supervising ethics office pursuant to this subchapter.
(c)

Joint covered investment
Any covered investment reported to the supervising ethics office as jointly owned by a covered person and the spouse of the covered person shall be deemed to be a covered investment of the covered person for purposes of this section.
13163.

Addressing owned covered investments
(a)

Covered persons
(1)

Divestiture
(A)

Requirements
(i)

Officials sworn in before the date of enactment
Subject to paragraph (2) and the amendments made under subsection (b), a covered person who is sworn into office on or before the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, not later than the effective date described in subsection (j)(1), subject to any extension granted under subparagraph (C)(iii) of this paragraph, shall divest each covered investment owned or in the custody of—
(I)
the covered person; or
(II)
a spouse or dependent child of the covered person.
(ii)

Officials sworn in after the date of enactment
Subject to paragraph (2) and the amendments made under subsection (b), a covered person who is sworn into office after the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, not later than the effective date described in subsection (j)(2), subject to any extension granted under subparagraph (C)(iii) of this paragraph, shall divest each covered investment owned or in the custody of—
(I)
the covered person; or
(II)
a spouse or dependent child of the covered person.
(B)

Illiquid investments
(i)

Officials sworn in before the date of enactment
In the case of a covered person who is sworn into office on or before the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, if the covered person commences a new term of service as a Member of Congress, President, or Vice President after such date of enactment and holds an illiquid investment at that time, the covered person shall divest the illiquid investment not later than the date that is—
(I)
after the effective date described in subsection (j)(1); and
(II)
90 days after the date on which the covered person is contractually permitted to sell the illiquid investment.
(ii)

Officials sworn in after the date of enactment
In the case of a covered person who is sworn after the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, if the covered person holds an illiquid investment on the date on which the covered person commences such term of service as a Member of Congress, President, or Vice President, the covered person shall divest the illiquid investment on the date that is—
(I)
after the effective date described in subsection (j)(2); and
(II)
not later than 90 days after the date on which the covered person is contractually permitted to sell the illiquid investment.
(C)

Qualified blind trusts
(i)

Prohibition on future qualified blind trusts
Except as provided in clause (iii), on and after the date that is 180 days after the applicable effective date described in subsection (j), neither a covered person nor any spouse or dependent child of the covered person may maintain a qualified blind trust.
(ii)

Mandatory sale of covered investments in existing qualified blind trusts
(I)

In general
The trustee of a qualified blind trust holding covered investments shall, at a time elected by the covered person, on behalf of a covered person, and in accordance with clause (iv)—
- (aa)
divest all covered investments held in the qualified blind trust for the purposes of complying with the divestiture requirements under this section, in accordance with subparagraph (A); and
- (bb)
dissolve the qualified blind trust in accordance with this chapter and guidance from the supervising ethics office.
(II)

Notice of compliance
- (aa)

Notice of divestiture
(AA)

In general
Upon the completion of divestiture of all covered investments pursuant to subclause (I)(aa), the trustee shall submit to the supervising ethics office and the applicable covered person a written notice stating that the trustee has completed divestiture of all covered investments held in the qualified blind trust pursuant to subclause (I)(aa).
(BB)

Publication
The supervising ethics office shall publish the notice required under subitem (AA) on the website of the supervising ethics office.
- (bb)

Notice of dissolution
Upon the dissolution of a qualified blind trust pursuant to subclause (I)(bb), the trustee shall submit to the supervising ethics office and the applicable covered person a written notice stating that the trust has dissolved the qualified blind trust pursuant to subclause (I)(bb) and shall include a list of the assets held in the qualified blind trust on the date of the dissolution of such trust and the category of value of each such asset.
(iii)

Extension of mandatory sale of covered investments
(I)

Request
Each covered person who maintains a qualified blind trust established by the covered person, or a spouse or dependent child of the covered person, in any case in which the trustee of the qualified blind trust believes the size or complexity of the covered investments in the qualified blind trust warrant such extension may apply to the supervising ethics office for an extension of the period described in subparagraph (A).
(II)

Duration
An extension granted under subclause (I) shall not exceed 90 days.
(iv)

Communications
A covered person may communicate with and direct the trustee of their qualified blind trust for the purposes of—
(I)
determining when divestment of covered investments in the qualified blind trust should occur, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, clause (ii) of this subparagraph, or section 13162(b), as applicable;
(II)
determining which permitted property covered investments should be divested into; and
(III)
whether the trustee utilizes a certificate of divestiture pursuant to section 1043(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by subsection (b) of this section.
(2)

Exception for dependents
An individual who is a dependent child of a covered person may have a legal guardian hold or trade on behalf of the dependent child 1 or more covered investments provided that the value of the covered investments in total does not exceed $10,000.
(b)

Tax treatment of divestitures
(1)

In general
Section 1043(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting “or a covered person (as defined in section 13161 of title 5, United States Code),” after “of the Federal Government,”;
(B)
in paragraph (2)(B)—
(i)
by striking “employees, or” and inserting “employees,”; and
(ii)
by inserting “or the applicable supervising ethics office (as defined in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code), in the case of a covered person” after “judicial officers,”; and
(C)
in paragraph (3), by striking “or any diversified investment fund approved by regulations issued by the Office of Government Ethics” and inserting “, any diversified investment fund approved by regulations issued by the Office of Government Ethics (in the case of any eligible person who is not a covered person (as defined in section 13161 of title 5, United States Code)), or any diversified mutual fund or a diversified exchange-traded fund described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 13161(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code (in the case of any eligible person who is a covered person (as so defined)).”.
(2)

Effective date
The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to sales after the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act.
(c)

Acquisitions during service
(1)

In general
Subject to paragraph (2), and any applicable rules issued pursuant to subsection (h)(3), effective beginning on the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, no covered person, or spouse or dependent child of a covered person, may acquire any covered investment.
(2)

Inheritances
(A)

In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), a covered person, or a spouse or dependent child of a covered person, who inherits a covered investment shall come into compliance as required under subsection (a) by not later than 120 days after the date on which the covered investment is inherited.
(B)

Extensions
If a covered person, or a spouse or dependent child of a covered person, is unable to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A), the applicable covered person may request, and the supervising ethics office may grant, 1 or more reasonable extensions, subject to the conditions that—
(i)
the total period of time covered by all extensions granted for the covered investment shall not exceed 150 days; and
(ii)
the period covered by a single extension shall be not longer than 45 days.
(d)

Family trusts
(1)

In general
A supervising ethics office may grant an exemption for a family trust only if—
(A)
no covered person, or spouse or dependent child of a covered person—
(i)
is a grantor of the family trust;
(ii)
contributed any asset to the family trust; or
(iii)
has any authority over a trustee of the family trust, including the authority to appoint, replace, or direct the actions of such a trustee; and
(B)
the grantor of the family trust is or was a family member of the covered person, or the spouse or dependent child of the covered person.
(2)

Requests
A covered person seeking an exemption under paragraph (1) shall submit to the applicable supervising ethics office a request for the exemption, in writing, certifying that the conditions described in that paragraph are met.
(3)

Publication
A supervising ethics office shall publish on the public website of the supervising ethics office—
(A)
a copy of each request submitted under paragraph (2); and
(B)
the written response of the supervising ethics office to each request described in subparagraph (A).
(e)

Separation from service and cooling-off period required for control
During the period beginning on the date on which an individual becomes a Member of Congress, President, or Vice President and ending on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the individual ceases to serve as a Member of Congress, President, or Vice President, the covered person, and any spouse or dependent child of the covered person, may not, except as provided in this section, otherwise control a covered investment, including purchasing new covered investments.
(f)

Reporting requirements
(1)

Supervising ethics offices
Each supervising ethics office shall make available on the public website of the supervising ethics office—
(A)
a copy of—
(i)
each notification submitted to the supervising ethics office in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(C)(ii)(II);
(ii)
each notice and other documentation submitted to the supervising ethics office under this section; and
(iii)
each written response and other documentation issued or received by the supervising ethics office under subsection (d);
(B)
not later than 30 days after a qualified blind trust maintained by a covered person is dissolved, a written notice of the dissolution of the qualified blind trust; and
(C)
a description of each extension granted, and each civil penalty imposed, pursuant to this section.
(2)

Federal benefits
(A)

Covered payment
In this paragraph, the term covered payment—
(i)
means a payment of money or any other item of value made, or promised to be made, by the Federal Government;
(ii)
includes—
(I)
a loan agreement, contract, or grant made, or promised to be made, by the Federal Government, including such an agreement, contract, or grant relating to agricultural activity; and
(II)
such other types of payment of money or items of value as the supervising ethics office may establish, by guidance; and
(iii)
does not include—
(I)
any salary or compensation for service performed as, or reimbursement of personal outlay by, an officer or employee of the Federal Government; or
(II)
any tax refund (including a refundable tax credit).
(B)

Reporting requirement
Not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of a notice of any application for, or receipt of, a covered payment by a covered person, or a spouse or dependent child of a covered person, including any business owned and controlled by the covered person, spouse, or dependent child, but in no case later than 45 days after the date on which the covered payment is made or promised to be made, the covered person shall submit to the applicable supervising ethics office a report describing the covered payment.
(g)

Enforcement
(1)

In general
The applicable supervising ethics office shall provide a written notice (including notice of the potential for civil penalties under paragraph (2)) to any covered person if the covered person, or the spouse or dependent child of the covered person, as applicable—
(A)
fails to divest a covered investment owned by, in the custody of, or held in a qualified blind trust of, the covered person or spouse or dependent child of a covered person, in accordance with subsection (a)(1), subject to any extension under subsection (a)(1)(C)(iii); or
(B)
acquires an interest in a covered investment in violation of this section.
(2)

Civil penalties
(A)

In general
In the event of continuing noncompliance after issuance of the notice described in paragraph (1), the supervising ethics office shall impose a civil penalty, in the amount described in subparagraph (B), on a covered person to whom a notice is provided under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)—
(i)
on the date that is 30 days after the date of provision of the notice; and
(ii)
during the period in which such noncompliance continues, not less frequently than once every 30 days thereafter.
(B)

Amount
The amount of each civil penalty imposed on a covered person pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the greater of—
(i)
the monthly equivalent of the annual rate of pay payable to the covered person; and
(ii)
an amount equal to 10 percent of the value of each covered investment that was not divested in violation of this section during the period covered by the penalty.
(h)

Duties of supervising ethics offices
Each supervising ethics office shall—
(1)
impose and collect civil penalties in accordance with subsection (g);
(2)
establish such procedures and standard forms as the supervising ethics office determines to be appropriate to implement this section;
(3)
issue such rules and guidelines as the supervising ethics office determines to be appropriate for the implementation and application of this subchapter; and
(4)
publish on a website all documents and communications described in this subsection.
(i)

Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a covered person, or a spouse or dependent child of a covered person, from owning or trading—
(1)
a diversified mutual fund; or
(2)
a publicly traded, diversified exchange traded fund.
(j)

Effective date
The effective date described in this subsection is the date on which—
(1)
in the case of a covered person who is sworn into office on or before the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, or the spouse or dependent child of such a covered person, the date on which the covered person commences a new term of service as a Member of Congress, President, or Vice President after such date of enactment; or
(2)
in the case of a covered person who is sworn into office after the date of enactment of the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act, or the spouse or dependent child of such a covered person, the date on which the covered person commences such term of service as a Member of Congress, President, or Vice President.”.
(b)

Clerical amendment
The table of sections for chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“SUBCHAPTER IV—Certain assets of Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children
13161. Definitions.
13162. Trading covered investments
13163. Addressing owned covered investments”.
(c)

Technical and conforming amendments
(1)

Title 5
Title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in section 13103(f)—
(i)
in paragraph (9), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”;
(ii)
in paragraph (10), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”;
(iii)
in paragraph (11), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”; and
(iv)
in paragraph (12), by striking “as defined in section 13101 of this title”; and
(B)
in section 13122(f)(2)(B)—
(i)
by striking “Subject to clause (iv) of this subparagraph, before” each place it appears and inserting “Before”; and
(ii)
by striking clause (iv).
(2)

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Section 3(4)(D) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(4)(D)) is amended by striking “legislative branch employee serving in a position described under section 13101(13) of title 5, United States Code” and inserting “officer or employee of Congress (as defined in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code)”.
(3)

Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 21A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u–1) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (g)(2)(B)(ii), by striking “section 13101(11)” and inserting “section 13101”; and
(B)
in subsection (h)(2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (B), by striking “in section 13101(9)” and inserting “under section 13101”; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (C), by striking “section 13101(10)” and inserting “section 13101”.
3.

Penalty for STOCK Act noncompliance
(a)

Fines for failure to report
(1)

In general
The STOCK Act (Public Law 112–105; 126 Stat. 291) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“20.

Fines for failure to report
(a)

In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), a reporting individual shall be assessed a fine, pursuant to regulations issued by the applicable supervising ethics office (including the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, as applicable), of $500 in each case in which the reporting individual fails to file a transaction report required under this Act or an amendment made by this Act.
(b)

Deposit in Treasury
The fines paid under this section shall be deposited in the miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury.”.
(2)

Effective date
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply on and after March 31, 2027.
(b)

Rules, regulations, guidance, and documents
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each supervising ethics office (as defined in section 13101 of title 5, United States Code) (including the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, as applicable) shall amend the rules, regulations, guidance, documents, papers, and other records of the supervising ethics office in accordance with the amendment made by this section.
4.

Electronic filing and online public availability of financial disclosure forms
(a)

Members of Congress and congressional staff
Section 8(b)(1) of the STOCK Act (5 U.S.C. 13107 note) is amended—
(1)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “, pursuant to subchapter I of chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, through databases maintained on the official websites of the House of Representatives and the Senate” after “enable”; and
(2)
by striking subparagraph (B) and the undesignated matter following that subparagraph and inserting the following:
“(B)
public access—
(i)
to each—
(I)
financial disclosure report filed by a Member of Congress or a candidate for Congress;
(II)
transaction disclosure report filed by a Member of Congress or a candidate for Congress pursuant to section 13105(l); and
(III)
notice of extension, amendment, or blind trust, with respect to a report described in subclause (I) or (II), pursuant to subchapter I of chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code; and
(ii)
in a manner that—
(I)
allows the public to search, sort, and download data contained in the reports described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) by criteria required to be reported, including by filer name, asset, transaction type, ticker symbol, notification date, amount of transaction, and date of transaction;
(II)
allows access through an application programming interface; and
(III)
is fully compliant with—
- (aa)
section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d); and
- (bb)
the most recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (or successor guidelines).”.
(b)

Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
5.

Severability
If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and of the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the remaining provisions of this Act and amendments to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected.
December 10, 2025
Reported with an amendment