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119th Congress
Independent · Nonpartisan · Reader-supported
SENATES. 1498· 119th Congress

Ban Congress, President From Trading Individual Stocks

Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act

Sponsor
Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Introduced
Apr 28, 2025
Last Action
Dec 10, 2025
Passage
42%
Introduced
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Dec 10, 2025
3
Floor Vote
4
Both Chambers
5
Enacted
01 — The Text

What.

  • Prohibits the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress—plus their spouses and dependents—from buying or selling individual stocks and digital assets.
  • Allows only diversified funds, Treasury securities, and similar safe holdings. Blind trusts are explicitly banned.
  • Requires forced divestment from prohibited investments within a set timeframe; 90-day cooling-off period after leaving office.
  • Creates searchable online disclosure database of divestiture notices, trust holdings, and federal benefits received by covered officials.
02 — The Stakes

So what?

  • Targets potential conflicts of interest: lawmakers voting on bills affecting companies they own stock in. Applies to their families too.
  • Winners: voters seeking transparency and officials avoiding appearance of impropriety. Losers: officials with stock portfolios who must liquidate.
  • Adds penalties for Members, candidates, and congressional staff who don't file required financial disclosures.
  • Stakes: whether lawmakers can legally profit from insider knowledge or must choose between public service and personal stock trading.
03 — The Path

Now what?

  • Bill passed Senate committee in December 2025 with amendments; now on Senate legislative calendar awaiting floor debate and vote.
  • If Senate passes it, bill moves to House for similar committee and floor review—a months-long process.
  • Contact your senators: ask whether they support restricting congressional stock trading.
Legislative History

Actions.

  • Dec 10, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 294.
  • Dec 10, 2025Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  • Dec 10, 2025Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  • Jul 30, 2025Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  • Apr 28, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  • Apr 28, 2025Introduced in Senate