Sponsor
Thomas Jonathan Ossoff
Senator · D-GA
The bill trades away Senators' ability to hold and trade stocks and cryptocurrency to reduce conflicts of interest and insider‑trading risk and boost public trust, at the cost of limiting lawmakers' financial freedom, encouraging workarounds that require oversight, and possibly deterring experienced candidates from public service.
Taxpayers and the public: Senators would be banned from trading stocks and cryptocurrency, reducing conflicts of interest and lowering the risk that lawmakers profit from nonpublic information, which should increase public trust in Senate decisions.
Experienced private‑sector individuals who might serve in the Senate: could be deterred from running or accepting office because they lose traditional investment options, potentially shrinking the pool of qualified candidates and reducing legislative expertise.
Senators and taxpayers: the trading ban may push Senators to adopt complex workarounds (trusts, proxies, etc.), creating ongoing oversight and enforcement costs for the Senate and taxpayers.
Senators (federal employees): their personal financial freedom is reduced by banning ownership and trading of entire asset classes, constraining investment options and financial autonomy.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Bars Senators from buying or selling publicly traded stocks or cryptocurrency beginning Jan 1, 2027.
Senator · D-GA
Official title: Prohibiting the buying or selling of certain investments by Senators.
Introduced June 23, 2026 by Thomas Jonathan Ossoff · Last progress June 23, 2026
Prohibits any Senator, starting January 1, 2027, from buying or selling publicly traded stocks or cryptocurrency. The change is made by adding a new rule to the Senate Standing Rules that bars Senators from engaging in those transactions. The rule redesignates the existing paragraph numbering and inserts the new prohibition; it affects how Senators may hold or trade marketable securities and digital assets and will likely require changes in how Senators manage personal investments (for example, divestment or use of blind trusts).