Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

Protection of Diversified Holdings: The bill allows individuals to keep certain types of investments without moving them into a blind trust, such as diversified mutual funds, diversified exchange-traded funds, and United States Treasury bills (Sec. 13161(C)).

Preservation of Income: Compensation from the primary occupation of a spouse or dependent child is excluded from the requirement to divest or move assets into a blind trust (Sec. 13161(C)(iv)).

Retirement Security: Investment funds held in Federal, State, or local government employee retirement plans are excluded from the requirements of this act (Sec. 13161(C)(v)).

Transparency for the Public: The bill requires supervising ethics offices to make various certifications, trust agreements, and asset schedules available on a public website (Sec. 13162(f)(1)).

Strict Asset Management Requirements: Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children must either divest or place "covered investments"—which include securities, commodities, and futures—into qualified blind trusts (Sec. 13162(a)(2)).

Financial Burden of Inheritances: If a Member or their family inherits a covered investment, they are required to divest it or place it in a qualified blind trust within 120 days (Sec. 13162(c)(2)(A)).

Restrictions on Asset Control: Members and their families are prohibited from dissolving qualified blind trusts or otherwise controlling covered investments during their service and for 180 days after they leave office (Sec. 13162(e)).

Heavy Financial Penalties: Members of Congress who fail to submit required certifications or move assets into trusts by the deadline may face civil penalties equal to their monthly rate of pay (Sec. 13162(g)(2)).