The U.S. Senate advances a bill to restrict insider trading, prohibiting officials from participating in securities investments while in office

The official information from the U.S. Congress website shows that the 119th Congress bill S.1498, the "Honest Act to Stop All Ownership and Unethical Stock Trading," was included in the Senate legislative schedule on December 10 and has entered the subsequent review stage. This bill was introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley in April 2025, has passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee review, and has been submitted in the form of an amendment.

The core objective of this bill is to prevent insider trading and conflicts of interest risks for public officials. It aims to prohibit members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and certain federal officials from holding or trading financial assets that may create conflicts of interest during their term, including stocks, derivatives, and futures, while establishing exemptions for government bonds and broadly diversified funds. The bill also requires relevant individuals to dispose of restricted assets within a specified timeframe and to conduct annual compliance disclosures, with violations facing penalties such as fines or confiscation of profits.

This legislation is seen as a strengthening supplement to the existing STOCK Act, aiming to enhance government transparency and ethical standards in response to long-standing public concerns about securities trading by members of Congress and potential insider trading issues.