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Bill

SR 276

A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to ban insider stock trading and betting in prediction markets.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Amanda Cappelletti and 9 co-sponsors

Urges Congress to pass federal laws banning stock trading and prediction-market betting by top officials, with divestiture, penalties, and independent enforcement.

Referred to Banking & Insurance
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Bill Summary · SR 276

Summary of Senate Resolution 276 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Note: This is a Pennsylvania Senate resolution urging federal action. It does not itself enact law in Pennsylvania, but advocates for Congress to pass federal legislation.

Purpose and Intent

  • SR 276 urges the U.S. Congress to ban insider stock trading and betting in prediction markets by federal law.
  • The resolution frames public office as a public trust and asserts that officials should avoid personal financial gain influenced by nonpublic information or knowledge gained through their official duties.
  • It highlights concerns about integrity, conflicts of interest, and public trust in government actions, national security decisions, and policy outcomes.

Key Provisions (Requests to Congress)

The resolution lays out five requested components for federal legislation:

  1. Stock and securities bans for top officials

    • Prohibits members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and members of the Presidential Cabinet from purchasing, selling, or holding individual stocks, securities, derivatives, or other “covered investments.”
    • Applies whether directly or through accounts under the official’s control.

  2. Prohibition on participation in prediction markets

    • Prohibits these officials from participating in prediction markets or placing bets on outcomes related to government action, policy, legislation, or national security events.

  3. Mandatory divestiture

    • Requires divestiture of “covered investments” within a reasonable period after election, appointment, or enactment of relevant legislation.

  4. Penalties for violations

    • Establishes meaningful civil and criminal penalties for violations of the proposed rules.

  5. Independent enforcement authority

    • Designates an independent enforcement body with adequate resources to investigate and prosecute violations, free from political interference.

Scope and Affected Parties

  • Targeted individuals include:
    • Members of Congress
    • The President and Vice President
    • Members of the Presidential Cabinet
  • The term “covered investments” includes individual stocks, derivatives, and other securities.
  • The proposal would affect both personal holdings and control over accounts where investments are managed.

Timeline and Process

  • The resolution instructs Congress to co-sponsor and pass federal legislation without delay.
  • Since this is a resolution urging federal action, it does not create Pennsylvania state law or impose penalties at the state level.
  • If federal legislation were enacted, its effective date would depend on the federal bill’s provisions (divestiture timelines, enforcement structure, and penalties).

Potential Impact

  • Aims to reduce perceived and actual conflicts of interest among top federal officials.
  • Could enhance public trust by ensuring official actions are not influenced by personal financial gain.
  • Establishes a framework for divestiture, enforcement, and penalties at the federal level if enacted.
  • Creates momentum for nationwide adoption of stricter ethical standards for elected and appointed officials.

Sponsorship and Status

  • Introduced April 23, 2026.
  • Referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
  • Sponsored by a broad bipartisan slate of senators (L. Williams, H. Haywood, P. Pisciottano, T. Tartaglione, F. Fontana, C. Cappelletti, Kearney, Comitta, Costa, Vogel).

If you’d like, I can compare SR 276 to existing federal or state ethics rules, or draft a plain-language explainer for a general audience.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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