Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9367
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 5 - 4.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9367: Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to prevent Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children, from making financial gains through prediction markets tied to government policies, actions, political events, or information gained from their official roles.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- A "covered individual" includes a Member of Congress, their spouse, or dependent child.
- The "supervising ethics office" refers to the ethics body overseeing the individual.
- Trading Restrictions: Covered individuals are prohibited from entering agreements, contracts, or transactions on prediction markets involving:
- Specific government policies or actions.
- Political outcomes.
- Any events learned about due to congressional service.
- Enforcement and Penalties:
- Violations result in fees calculated as the greater of $2,000 or 10% of the transaction value, plus any net profits gained.
- Fees must be paid by the Member of Congress involved and cannot come from official allowances, office accounts, or campaign contributions.
- Collected fees go to the U.S. Treasury.
- The ethics office may refer unpaid cases involving former Members to the Department of Justice.
- Ethics offices can provide guidance on the rules, considering any mitigating or aggravating factors.
- Effective Date: The changes take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill adds a new subchapter (Subchapter IV) to Chapter 131 of Title 5 of the U.S. Code, introducing specific bans on prediction market trading for covered individuals. It builds on existing ethics rules by creating targeted restrictions and financial penalties not previously outlined for this type of activity.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Ethics offices would gain new responsibilities for issuing guidance, calculating penalties, and enforcing compliance, potentially increasing their workload.
- On Citizens: Members of Congress and their families could face financial restrictions on certain market activities, which might limit personal investment options.
- On International Relations: No direct effects are specified in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress and their immediate family members (spouses and dependent children).
- Supervising ethics offices responsible for oversight and enforcement.
- The Department of Justice, which may handle referrals for former Members.
- The general public and Treasury, as penalties are deposited as miscellaneous receipts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill extends ethics restrictions to family members and links penalties to personal financial gains, which could raise questions about personal financial freedoms. It includes mechanisms for referrals to criminal authorities in some cases, potentially overlapping with existing conflict-of-interest laws. The 180-day delay allows time for preparation and guidance issuance.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Gallagher, James [R-CA-1], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 5 - 4.
- 2026-06-24: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Lawmakers From Predicting Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (5 pages)