United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

S 855 — Royalty Transparency Act

Last action — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 05, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 18% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

17 added · 11 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment modifies the text regarding the reporting requirements under a specific subsection. It removes an entire paragraph and clarifies that any report submitted must be unredacted, while still protecting certain sensitive information. This change is important as it establishes a clearer standard for transparency in reporting while maintaining privacy for specific personal data.

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Previous
Latest
855 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
855 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
165 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require executive branch employees to report certain royalties, and for other purposes.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs September 17 (legislative day, September 16), 2025 Reported by Mr.
Paul, with amendments [Omit the parts struck through and insert the parts printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require executive branch employees to report certain royalties, and for other purposes.
or ``(2) granted under subpart (C) of part 2640 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, shall be immediately reported to the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, including a detailed justification for granting the waiver.''.
or ``(2) granted under subpart (C) of part 2640 of title 5 of the, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, shall be immediately reported to the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, including a detailed justification for granting the waiver.''.
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and the matter following paragraph (2);
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and the matter flush text following paragraph (2);
``(3) Procedure for releasing reports to members of congress.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 30 days after receiving a request from a Member of Congress, any agency or supervising ethics office in the executive branch shall furnish to the Member of Congress a copy of any report submitted under subsection (b), which shall be unredacted, except with respect to social security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, rental property addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, financial account numbers, signatures, and the personally identifiable information of dependent children.''.
``(3) Procedure for releasing reports to members of congress.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 30 days after receiving a request from a Member of Congress, any agency or supervising ethics office in the executive branch shall furnish to the Member of Congress a copy of any report submitted under subsection (b) this subchapter, which shall be unredacted, except with respect to social security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, rental property addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, financial account numbers, signatures, and the personally identifiable information of dependent children.''.
<all>
Calendar No.
165 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
855 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require executive branch employees to report certain royalties, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ September 17 (legislative day, September 16), 2025 Reported with amendments
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How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds requirements for executive branch employees to disclose certain royalty payments received for inventions, amending existing financial reporting laws.

  • 5 U.S.C. § 13103

    any member of-- (A) the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity; (B) the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; (C) the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines; (D) the National Vaccine Advisory Committee; (E) the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; (F) the Defense Science Board; (G) the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute; (H) the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee; (I) the Medical Review Board Advisory Committee; (J) the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; or (K) any other advisory committee, as defined in section 1001, including a successor to a committee described in this paragraph, that the Government Accountability Office determines, in accordance with subsection (j)-- (i) makes recommendations relating to public health to an agency or the President; and (ii) has had any recommendation fully or partially implemented during the 10 years preceding the determination.

    The bill mandates reporting for additional advisory committee members regarding financial disclosures.

  • 5 U.S.C. § 13103

    Notwithstanding section 12(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(c)) and section 209 of title 35, if the reporting individual is an officer or employee in the executive branch (including a special Government employee, as defined in section 202 of title 18), or an individual described in section 13103(f)(13), the original source and amount or value of any royalties received by the reporting individual, the spouse of the reporting individual, or a dependent child of the reporting individual during the reporting period described in subsection (d) or (e) of section 13103.

    The bill explicitly requires reporting of royalty income from inventions made during government employment.

  • 5 U.S.C. § 13103

    the information required to be reported under this section shall include the original source and amount or value of any royalties received by the reporting individual, or the spouse or any dependent child of the reporting individual, that were received as a result of an invention, including any royalty interest payment made under the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-502; 100 Stat. 1785), an amendment made by such Act, or any other applicable authority.

    The bill expands the requirements for financial disclosure to include specifics about royalties received.

  • 5 U.S.C. § 13107

    the supervising ethics office determines → the supervising ethics office-- (1) determines

    The bill clarifies the process under which waivers are determined related to ethical disclosures.

  • 5 U.S.C. § 13109

    Royalties Received by Confidential Filers.--Notwithstanding section 12(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(c)) and section 209 of title 35, the information required to be reported under this section shall include the original source and amount or value of any royalties received by the reporting individual, or the spouse or any dependent child of the reporting individual, that were received as a result of an invention, including any royalty interest payment made under the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-502; 100 Stat. 1785), an amendment made by such Act, or any other applicable authority.

    The bill requires confidential filers to also report royalties from inventions developed during their government service.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

  3. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  4. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with amendments. Without written report.

  5. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with amendments. Without written report.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (545)

545 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

finance
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 855?
S 855 is sponsored by Paul, Rand (Republican) and Scott, Rick (Republican).
What is the current status of S 855?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 05, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 855?
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