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119th Congress
Independent · Nonpartisan · Reader-supported
HOUSEH.R. 216· 119th Congress

SEC Act clarifies when to count securities violations as one

SEC Act of 2025

Sponsor
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Introduced
Jan 7, 2025
Last Action
Jan 7, 2025
Passage
12%
Introduced
Jan 7, 2025
2
Committee
3
Floor Vote
4
Both Chambers
5
Enacted
01 — The Text

What.

  • Defines when multiple securities law breaches count as a single violation for penalty purposes.
  • Groups violations together if they stem from one common cause, the same false statement, or ongoing non-compliance.
  • Applies to violations involving securities registration, sales, and conduct by brokers, dealers, and investment advisers.
02 — The Stakes

So what?

  • Companies and financial firms could face lower penalties if separate violations get bundled as one under these new rules.
  • Investors and regulators get clarity on how the SEC calculates fines, reducing ambiguity in enforcement actions.
  • The tradeoff: stricter penalty calculations could deter violations, or looser grouping rules could reduce consequences for repeated misconduct.
03 — The Path

Now what?

  • Bill introduced Jan. 7, 2025 and referred to House Financial Services Committee. No companion Senate bill yet; no cosponsors.
  • Committee must vote to advance it; passage is not guaranteed without broader support.
  • Track progress at Congress.gov or contact your House representative to voice support or concerns.
Legislative History

Actions.

  • Jan 7, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • Jan 7, 2025Introduced in House
  • Jan 7, 2025Introduced in House