HJRES139119th CongressWALLET

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

Sponsored By: Representative Biggs (AZ)

In Committee

Summary

A constitutional balanced-budget requirement. This amendment would limit annual federal outlays, require supermajority votes for tax increases and for exceptions to the limit, and become effective years after ratification.

Show full summary
  • Families and federal programs: The amendment caps total federal spending at the average annual receipts from the three prior years, adjusted for changes in the U.S. citizen population and for inflation. The cap excludes payments on the debt and receipts from borrowing.
  • Congressional process and emergencies: Congress may approve spending above the cap only by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each House. The same two-thirds vote can authorize excess spending during any year a declaration of war is in effect.
  • Taxes and implementation: Any bill to levy a new tax or to increase a tax rate must be approved by two-thirds of the whole number of each House by roll call vote. Congress must enact laws to enforce the amendment and it takes effect in the fifth year after ratification.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Congress can override spending cap

If enacted, this bill would let Congress approve specific spending above the cap by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each House. If a declaration of war is in effect, Congress could also approve excess spending for that year by the same two-thirds roll call vote. These votes would be the formal way to exceed the constitutional limit.

Yearly federal spending cap

If enacted, this bill would require yearly federal spending to stay at or below the average of the prior three years' receipts. Receipts would exclude money from borrowing. The average would be adjusted for changes in the citizen population and for inflation. Expenditures would exclude payments of federal debt. The new rule would take effect in the fifth year after ratification. Congress would have to pass laws to put the rule into practice.

Supermajority required to raise taxes

If enacted, this bill would bar any bill that creates a new tax or raises any tax rate from becoming law unless two-thirds of the whole number of each House approve it by roll call vote. This would make new taxes or rate increases harder to pass. That could affect whether Congress raises revenue or cuts spending to meet the constitutional limit.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Biggs (AZ)

AZ • R

Cosponsors

  • Clyde

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Brecheen

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov

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