A bipartisan bill to ban lawmakers from trading stocks is unveiled in the House, aiming to address concerns about lawmakers profiting from their roles.
Compiled September 5, 2025
Details
The bipartisan bill, introduced in September 2025, aims to ban members of Congress from buying and selling individual stocks while in office. The legislation is a response to longstanding concerns about lawmakers using nonpublic information for personal gain and the appearance of conflicts of interest. Under current law (the STOCK Act of 2012), lawmakers must disclose trades over $1,000 within 30 days, but critics argue this is insufficient to prevent unethical behavior.
Key sponsors include Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), who led negotiations to address voter concerns about insider trading. The bill has support from both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), as well as public backing from former President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The proposal comes after years of failed attempts due to disagreements over the scope and enforcement of such a ban.
The bill would require lawmakers to divest individual stocks or place them in a blind trust. Some lawmakers have already divested or pledged not to trade stocks while in office. The Senate has also considered similar legislation, but opposition remains, with some arguing that new rules could discourage public service or are unnecessary given existing disclosure laws.