Commodity Futures Trading Commission Research and Development Modernization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a statutory research and development program for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to study emerging technologies and run pilots with industry. It would give the Commission clear authority to adopt R&D plans, use "other transaction" agreements when contracts are inappropriate, accept limited in-kind contributions under strict rules, and report annually on those activities.
Show full summary
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission staff: Would get a codified R&D authority with four stated goals — understand emerging technology and systemic risk, test innovations with developers and users, adapt administration of the Act, and produce educational materials.
- Technology developers and market participants: Could join pilots and enter "other transaction" agreements to explore new tools and systems, provided projects align with an adopted R&D plan and use competitive processes when appropriate.
- Contributors and congressional oversight: The bill permits limited non-monetary contributions like access to facilities under tight conditions, requires the Commission to disclose covered contributions to the House and Senate Agriculture committees within 14 days, mandates annual reporting on transactions and contributions, and sunsets the contribution authority on Oct. 1, 2031.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
CFTC research and development authority
This bill would let the Commodity Futures Trading Commission set up formal research and development programs and adopt R&D plans by rule or order. It would allow the Commission to use other-transaction authority to work with outside groups when contracts are not feasible, with competition used where appropriate. The Commission could accept certain in-kind help (access, facility use, equipment, or services) only to further an adopted R&D plan and only if strict conditions are met. The Commission would have to publish policies, notify the House and Senate agriculture committees within 14 days after agreeing to take a covered in-kind contribution, and send an annual report within 60 days after each fiscal year ends. The authority to accept these in-kind contributions could not be used on or after October 1, 2031.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
GA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov