Backed by DeSantis, Luna pushes Congressional stock trading ban bill

Key Points

• Republican U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna has introduced bipartisan legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress, with backing from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis [web:1][web:2]
• DeSantis called individual stock trading a “bipartisan ailment” and stated that “We need to clean both houses up there,” comparing some members of Congress to “Warren Buffett on steroids” in their investment returns [web:1]
• Luna’s bill is anticipated to be taken up by the House during the first three months of 2026, with Luna having spoken to House Speaker Mike Johnson [web:1]
• The legislation would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning, purchasing, or selling individual stocks, bonds, commodities, and similar financial assets [web:4][web:9]
• DeSantis has proposed requiring Florida congressional candidates to answer questions about stock trading on ballot qualification forms to inform voters ahead of elections [web:1][web:2]
• Several Florida congressional members have signed on to a discharge petition, though it remains unclear if all 28 will ultimately support the legislation [web:1]
• The bill includes strong enforcement provisions and meaningful penalties for violations [web:9]
• This effort represents a broader bipartisan push to address ethics concerns in Congress regarding insider trading and conflicts of interest [web:12]

Inverted Pyramid Structure

What is Luna’s Congressional stock trading ban bill?

As reported by multiple Florida news outlets covering Governor Ron DeSantis’s press conference, Republican U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna has introduced comprehensive bipartisan legislation aimed at banning stock trading by members of Congress [web:1][web:2]. The bill, which has garnered support from DeSantis and other state officials, represents a significant push to address what DeSantis characterised as a fundamental ethics problem within the legislative branch. According to reporting from CBS12, DeSantis stated during a news conference in Clearwater that “The U.S. Congress has serious problems. The institution is broken, and it has led to an erosion of our constitutional system” [web:2].

Why has DeSantis backed Luna’s stock trading ban initiative?

As reported by Politico, DeSantis called individual stock trading a “bipartisan ailment,” emphasising the need for comprehensive reform across both political parties [web:1]. In a social media post referenced by Politico, DeSantis added that “it is a farce how some members of Congress — including but not limited to Nancy Pelosi — suddenly become Warren Buffet on steroids when it comes to investment returns” [web:1]. According to CBS12’s coverage of the event, DeSantis was joined by Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson in expressing these concerns [web:2]. The governor’s support reflects his broader criticism of Congress and his advocacy for institutional reforms, including congressional term limits [web:1].

What specific provisions does the proposed legislation include?

According to reporting from multiple sources covering Luna’s legislative efforts, the bill would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, dependent children, and trustees from owning, purchasing, or selling individual stocks, securities, commodities, and similar financial assets [web:9]. As reported by the Campaign Legal Center, the legislation includes strong enforcement provisions and meaningful penalties for violations [web:19]. The bill represents a unified effort that draws from several earlier proposals in Congress. According to reporting on the bipartisan coalition effort, representatives including Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Chip Roy (R-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have been working together on comprehensive stock trading restrictions [web:12].

What is Luna’s timeline for advancing the legislation through Congress?

As reported by Politico, Luna stated that she has spoken to House Speaker Mike Johnson and anticipates that her bill will be taken up during the first three months of the year [web:1]. According to the same reporting, Luna said about individual stock trading: “It’s wrong and it needs to stop” [web:1]. Luna previously filed a discharge petition in December 2025 to bring the bipartisan legislation directly to the House floor, reflecting what she characterised as overwhelming public support and growing frustration with political delays [web:11]. According to Politico’s reporting, several Florida members have signed on to the discharge petition, but it remains unclear if all 28 of Florida’s congressional delegation will ultimately support the legislation [web:1].

What is DeSantis proposing regarding Florida candidates and stock trading disclosure?

As reported by Politico and CBS12, DeSantis has acknowledged that the state has limited authority to place restrictions on Florida’s congressional delegation [web:1][web:2]. However, according to reporting from Florida Politics, the governor wants the state legislature to require federal candidates to answer whether they plan to personally invest while in office [web:10]. As reported by Politico, DeSantis stated that such a requirement would at least let voters know ahead of time what plan candidates intend to follow [web:1]. According to the same source, DeSantis added that such a requirement would not work as effectively for state legislators because they are only on the job part-time and many work in the financial sector [web:1].

What is the broader context of congressional stock trading reform efforts?

The push to ban congressional stock trading represents a long-standing effort to address ethics concerns in Congress. According to reporting from the Campaign Legal Center, over a decade after the passage of the STOCK Act, the legislation has not lived up to its promise of preventing the appearance of corruption and has fallen short of ensuring the public that Congress is prioritising the needs of everyday Americans over personal wealth [web:19]. According to the same source, allegations of lawmakers enriching themselves during times of economic uncertainty or public crisis have contributed to decreased public trust in elected officials and government institutions [web:19].

As reported by multiple sources, parallel efforts are underway in the Senate. According to reporting on Senate legislation, bipartisan senators including Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have advanced the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transactions (HONEST) Act through committee [web:6]. According to the same reporting, the legislation would immediately ban members of Congress, the President, and Vice President from buying stocks and other covered investments, and would prohibit them from selling stocks 90 days after enactment [web:6].

How does Luna’s bill compare to other congressional stock trading proposals?

According to reporting on the bipartisan House effort, the Restore Trust in Congress Act was introduced by a coalition of lawmakers including representatives from both parties [web:12]. As reported by the Campaign Legal Center, the bill incorporates key provisions of stock act reform that the organisation has long advocated for, including a ban on stock ownership that is enforceable and holds lawmakers accountable [web:19]. According to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as quoted in reporting on the bipartisan legislation: “It’s far past time to ban Members of Congress from day trading stocks, and for the first time, a bipartisan coalition is standing together behind a united proposal to do just that. The Restore Trust in Congress Act ensures that members of Congress will no longer be able to put the stock market first in their official decisions. This bill strikes a balance between being easy to comply with, but without tons of loopholes for Members to continue trading while on the job” [web:9][web:12].

What does DeSantis say about Congress’s broader institutional problems?

According to CBS12’s coverage of DeSantis’s press conference, the governor expressed concerns extending beyond stock trading. As reported by CBS12, DeSantis stated that according to his assessment, the current Congress has ceded authority to bureaucratic agencies, leading to dysfunction and a lack of accountability [web:2]. According to the same reporting, DeSantis stated: “The easiest remedy for unwanted government actions is to defund them” [web:2]. As reported by CBS12, DeSantis criticised Congress for relying on continuing resolutions rather than passing actual bills that target spending reforms, stating: “They’ve given up their number one weapon, which is the power of the purse” [web:2].

What is the significance of DeSantis’s endorsement for Luna’s bill?

As reported by Politico, DeSantis’s support for Luna’s measure is not surprising given his ongoing criticism of Congress [web:1]. According to the same reporting, the governor has advocated for congressional term limits and other institutional reforms [web:1]. DeSantis’s public backing, demonstrated through a press conference alongside Luna and other state officials, provides political momentum for the legislation at a critical moment when it is being considered for floor consideration. As reported by Politico, DeSantis also called on Florida’s congressional delegation to vote for Luna’s bill [web:1], signalling his intention to leverage his influence to advance the legislation.

What challenges remain for the stock trading ban legislation?

Despite the bipartisan support demonstrated by Luna and her coalition, challenges remain for advancing the legislation. As reported by Politico, whilst several Florida members have signed on to the discharge petition, it remains unclear if all 28 of Florida’s congressional delegation will ultimately support the legislation [web:1]. The need for a discharge petition itself indicates that the legislation has faced resistance within the House leadership structure. According to reporting on the legislative history, Luna’s efforts to advance the bill through traditional channels have proven insufficient, necessitating the more aggressive procedural mechanism of the discharge petition to force a floor vote.