Overview
- The House approved the Stop Insider Trading Act in a 232-198 vote on July 22, 2026, sending the bill to the Senate for further action.
- The law would bar members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from buying new individual stocks but would let them keep and sell existing holdings with seven to 14 days’ public notice.
- Penalties for disclosure violations would rise from $200 to either $2,000 or 10% of the transaction’s value and would require forfeiture of any trading profits.
- Republicans added a nationwide voter‑ID requirement before the floor vote, a move that reduced Democratic support and leaves the bill’s final text uncertain in the Senate.
- Critics including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jim McGovern say the bill has major loopholes for ownership and sales, while sponsors argue the measure is a practical, incremental reform and a companion bill would bar lawmakers from wagering on prediction markets.