Legis Daily

Royalty Transparency Act

USA119th CongressS-855| Senate 
| Updated: 9/17/2025
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Cosponsors (1)
Rick Scott (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Royalty Transparency Act aims to enhance transparency regarding financial interests of executive branch employees and certain advisory committee members. It expands the scope of individuals required to file public financial disclosure reports to include members of key public health and science advisory committees, such as the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The Government Accountability Office will also annually identify other advisory committees whose public health recommendations have been implemented, bringing their members under these disclosure requirements for a five-year period. A central provision of the bill mandates that these financial disclosure reports, both public and confidential, must include the original source and amount or value of any royalties received by the reporting individual, their spouse, or dependent children. This specifically covers royalties derived from inventions developed during government employment, overriding previous statutory exemptions. Agencies are required to publish these reports on their internet websites, making them publicly accessible, and must provide unredacted copies (excluding sensitive personal information) to Members of Congress upon request. Beyond individual disclosures, the Act addresses potential organizational conflicts of interest in federal acquisition. It directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and the Office of Management and Budget to update regulations, ensuring that conflict of interest reviews for prospective contractors and grantees include an assessment of royalties received by them. Agencies will also be required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing identified cases of potential conflicts related to royalty payments and the mitigation strategies employed.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3664
Royalty Transparency Act
Mar 5, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1863
Introduced in House
Mar 5, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 30, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with amendments. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3664
    Royalty Transparency Act


  • March 5, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1863
    Introduced in House


  • March 5, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 5, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 30, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • September 17, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with amendments. Without written report.


  • September 17, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1863: Royalty Transparency Act
Congressional oversightGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesIntellectual propertyPublic contracts and procurement

Royalty Transparency Act

USA119th CongressS-855| Senate 
| Updated: 9/17/2025
The Royalty Transparency Act aims to enhance transparency regarding financial interests of executive branch employees and certain advisory committee members. It expands the scope of individuals required to file public financial disclosure reports to include members of key public health and science advisory committees, such as the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The Government Accountability Office will also annually identify other advisory committees whose public health recommendations have been implemented, bringing their members under these disclosure requirements for a five-year period. A central provision of the bill mandates that these financial disclosure reports, both public and confidential, must include the original source and amount or value of any royalties received by the reporting individual, their spouse, or dependent children. This specifically covers royalties derived from inventions developed during government employment, overriding previous statutory exemptions. Agencies are required to publish these reports on their internet websites, making them publicly accessible, and must provide unredacted copies (excluding sensitive personal information) to Members of Congress upon request. Beyond individual disclosures, the Act addresses potential organizational conflicts of interest in federal acquisition. It directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and the Office of Management and Budget to update regulations, ensuring that conflict of interest reviews for prospective contractors and grantees include an assessment of royalties received by them. Agencies will also be required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing identified cases of potential conflicts related to royalty payments and the mitigation strategies employed.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3664
Royalty Transparency Act
Mar 5, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1863
Introduced in House
Mar 5, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 30, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with amendments. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3664
    Royalty Transparency Act


  • March 5, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1863
    Introduced in House


  • March 5, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 5, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.


  • July 30, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • September 17, 2025
    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with amendments. Without written report.


  • September 17, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.
Rand Paul

Rand Paul

Republican Senator

Kentucky

Cosponsors (1)
Rick Scott (Republican)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1863: Royalty Transparency Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesIntellectual propertyPublic contracts and procurement