CITE Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Divest or use a qualified blind trust within 90 days to stop federal candidates from holding individual securities that could create conflicts of interest. The bill lays out which investments are covered or exempt and requires written certification of compliance.
Show full summary
- Candidates, their spouses, and dependent children would have to divest covered investments or transfer them into a qualified blind trust within 90 days of filing. Exempt assets include broad index funds, U.S. Treasury securities, CDs, money market funds, and defined benefit pensions.
- Candidates would be barred from buying new covered investments while they are a candidate. Inheritances are allowed only if the asset is divested or put into a qualified blind trust within 90 days and purchases inside an established blind trust are allowed.
- The House and Senate ethics committees and the Office of Government Ethics would issue rules within 180 days after enactment to define qualified trusts, review certifications, and consider hardship waivers in extraordinary cases.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Ethics offices must write rules
If enacted, the House and Senate ethics committees and the Office of Government Ethics would have 180 days after enactment to issue rules to carry out the bill. The rules must spell out how to file and review the required certifications and how to judge whether a trust qualifies as a qualified blind trust. The agencies must also publish a process for asking for a hardship waiver, and waivers would be allowed only in extraordinary circumstances.
Existing insider-trading rules still apply
If enacted, the bill would say that nothing in it is meant to limit the STOCK Act or other federal insider trading, conflict-of-interest, or financial disclosure laws. The Act would be read together with chapter 131 of title 5 and existing candidate disclosure rules so those laws continue to apply.
Who and which investments count
If enacted, the bill would define who is a candidate and which assets are covered. A covered individual would include the candidate, their spouse, and dependent children. Covered investments would include public company stocks, bonds, options, and ETFs holding individual securities. The bill would exempt broad funds like S&P 500 index funds, many mutual funds, Treasury and government bonds, CDs, money-market funds, and defined benefit pensions.
Candidates must divest or use blind trusts
If enacted, candidates and their spouse or dependent children would need to divest covered investments or place them in a qualified blind trust within 90 days after they file to run. The trust must follow the statute for a qualified blind trust, have an independent trustee, and prevent the candidate from influencing or learning trust transactions. Candidates would also have to file a written certification within 90 days showing they have no covered investments except exempt assets or that all covered investments are in a qualified blind trust and naming the trustee and financial institution. Candidates could not buy new covered investments while they are candidates, with limited exceptions for inheritances (which must be divested or put in trust within 90 days) and for purchases made inside an approved blind trust.
When the rules would take effect
If enacted, the Act would take effect 180 days after it is signed. The rules would apply to anyone who files to run for federal office on or after that date. That timeline gives future candidates time to plan but also creates a clear deadline when divestiture, trust placement, and certification duties would begin.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov