The Senate failed on September 30, 2026, to advance the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would have barred members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from buying new individual stocks. The motion received 53 votes in favor and 47 against, short of the 60 votes required to proceed. The Senate effort stalled after House Republicans attached a voter photo identification requirement, which Democrats called a poison pill. The House had passed its version in July 2026 by 232-198. Under the proposed bill, existing holdings could have been retained, but sales would have required seven to 14 days’ public notice and violations would have carried a penalty equal to the greater of a fixed dollar amount or 10% of the trade, plus net gains. Widely held funds would have been exempt. Current rules remain in place, allowing lawmakers to trade individual shares if they disclose transactions weeks later in broad dollar ranges. The article argues those delayed, imprecise filings are a weak basis for investing and says a future Senate version without the voter-ID provision will show whether the trading restrictions themselves lack 60 votes.