Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

This bill would limit stock and similar trading by members of Congress and their families. It requires lawmakers, their spouses, and dependent children to sell certain investments or place them in a “blind trust,” so they can’t see or control the assets while in office. Current members must certify their plan within 30 days of the bill becoming law and finish selling or moving assets within 120 days, with limited extensions allowed. New members must follow the same steps within similar timeframes after taking office . While serving, they may not buy new covered investments. If they inherit such an investment, they must sell it or put it in a blind trust within 120 days, again with possible short extensions. They also can’t dissolve a blind trust or regain control of these assets until 180 days after leaving Congress .

The bill increases transparency. Ethics offices must post certifications, blind trust agreements, lists of assets placed in trusts, and any extensions or penalties on their public websites. Trustees and members also have to report certain trust actions and notices. If a lawmaker misses deadlines, the ethics office must notify them and then charge monthly civil fines equal to their monthly congressional pay until they comply .

• Who is affected: Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children
• What changes: Must sell or move covered investments into blind trusts; cannot buy new covered investments while serving; inheritances must be handled the same way
• Key deadlines: 30 days to certify plan; 120 days to sell or move assets; extensions up to 180 days total; 180-day “cooling off” after leaving office before regaining control
• Penalties and transparency: Monthly fines equal to monthly pay for missing deadlines; public posting of filings and actions