Bills · HR 4890
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 4890Congress
Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act
INTRO AUG 5· LAST ACTION AUG 5
READING
26MIN
COSPONSORS
16BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill addresses long-standing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and insider trading among lawmakers. Voters often worry that Members of Congress might use privileged information gained through their legislative work to make personal financial gains, or that their investment decisions could be influenced by their public duties, rather than solely by market factors.
If this bill becomes law, it could significantly increase public trust in government by demonstrating that lawmakers are prioritizing public service over personal financial opportunities. It would change the current system where Members of Congress are allowed to actively trade stocks while in office, by either banning direct trading or requiring existing assets to be managed by an independent third party. If the bill doesn't pass, the current rules, which allow for such trading with disclosure requirements, would remain in place, leaving open the perceived potential for conflicts of interest.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing 'covered investments' immediately upon the bill becoming law.
This prevents lawmakers and their families from acquiring new individual stocks, commodities, or futures, aiming to curb potential insider trading or conflicts of interest from the start.
PROVISION 02
Bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from selling 'covered investments' 90 days after the bill becomes law, with specific exceptions.
This provision, combined with the purchase ban, aims to force divestment or placement into blind trusts for existing assets, preventing active trading of these specific holdings.
PROVISION 03
Requires that all 'covered investments' currently owned by these individuals be placed into a 'qualified blind trust' or divested.
This ensures that existing assets are managed independently, removing the potential for personal financial decisions to be influenced by legislative knowledge or actions.
PROVISION 04
Defines 'covered investment' broadly to include stocks, commodities, futures, and certain investment funds, but specifically excludes diversified mutual funds, U.S. Treasury bonds, and certain other specific assets.
This clarifies which types of investments are restricted and which are still permitted, providing flexibility for general financial planning while targeting specific conflict-prone assets.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 16
D· Illinois
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
42
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 75%
DEM 10 REP 6 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSAUG 5
Introduced in House
AUG 5
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 4890
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedAug 5, 2025
Last actionAug 5, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED AUG 5, 2025
House BillHR 4890Congress
Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act
INTRODUCED AUG 5, 2025· LAST ACTION AUG 5, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
26 min
COSPONSORS
16
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
