Commodity Futures Trading Commission Research and Development Modernization Act of 2025

Commodity markets regulator expands research authority

This bill would require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to set up research, development, demonstration, and information programs to study new market technologies, data security, and systemic risk. The Commission would be able to adopt a research and development plan by rule or order that names priorities and how special transaction authority would be used. The bill would let the Commission use ‘‘other transaction’’ authority when a competitive process was tried and a contract is not feasible. The Commission would be allowed to accept certain non‑monetary help (like use of facilities, data, or services) only to further an approved plan and only if laws and funding rules are met. That non‑monetary authority would end on October 1, 2031. The Commission would have to notify the House and Senate Agriculture Committees within 14 days after agreeing to accept a covered contribution. It would also have to send an annual report within 60 days after each fiscal year on all other transactions and all covered non‑monetary contributions, listing sources, uses, project status, and spending.