Can members of Congress trade stocks?
Yes. Members of the US House and Senate may buy and sell individual stocks. Since 2012 the STOCK Act makes them report each trade within 45 days and states that the insider trading laws apply to them. As of 31 October 2026, no bill that bans their trading has become law.
What the STOCK Act says
The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (Public Law 112-105) became law on 4 April 2012. It states that members and employees of Congress may not use nonpublic information they learn through their position for private profit, and that the insider trading rules of the securities laws apply to them. It also added the trade reports described below. It did not forbid members to own or trade stocks.
The 45-day deadline
A member reports each purchase, sale or exchange of a stock, bond or other security worth more than $1,000 on a periodic transaction report. The report is due within 30 days after the member learns of the trade, and never later than 45 days after the trade (5 U.S.C. 13105(l)). Trades by a spouse or a dependent child count. The amount appears as a range, such as $15,001 to $50,000. The STOCK Act guide lists the ranges and what stays off the report.
The fee for filing late
A member who files a required report more than 30 days after its due date pays a fee of $200 (5 U.S.C. 13106(d)). The ethics office of the House or Senate can waive it in extraordinary circumstances. How often reports arrive after the 45 days is in late filings in numbers.
Bills to ban trading, as of 31 October 2026
Members have introduced several bills in the 119th Congress (2025 to 2026) to limit their own trading. Three of them, with their status as recorded by the Library of Congress:
| Bill | What it would do | Status |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 7008, Stop Insider Trading Act | Members, their spouses and dependent children may not buy securities of listed companies, options included. They may keep what they own, but must announce a sale 7 to 14 days ahead. Diversified funds are exempt. The version the House passed also adds a photo ID requirement for voting in federal elections. | Passed the House on 22 July 2026, 232 to 198 (roll call 280). On 30 September 2026 a Senate motion to end debate on taking it up got 53 votes to 47, short of the 60 it needed. |
| H.R. 5106, Restore Trust in Congress Act | Members, their spouses and dependent children may not own or trade stocks, commodities or futures. Diversified funds, US Treasuries and municipal bonds are exempt. | Introduced on 3 September 2025. No vote in the House. |
| S. 1498, HONEST Act | Members, their spouses and dependent children must sell certain investments. The version reported in the Senate also covers the President and the Vice President. | Placed on the Senate calendar on 10 December 2025. No vote in the Senate. |
A bill that passes one chamber also has to pass the other and be signed by the President. The 119th Congress ends on 3 January 2027; a bill that has not become law by then has to be introduced again.
Congress trades on this site
Politician Search lists the reported trades per member, with the trade date, the filing date, the range and a link to the original report. Which members report the most trades is in which members of Congress trade the most?, and what research found about their returns is in do politicians beat the market?.
Checked against the regulation and the regulator’s own pages on Oct 31, 2026. This guide explains the rules; it is not legal or investment advice.
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