[Report No. 119–448]
September 8, 2025
Mr. Allen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
January 14, 2026
Additional sponsors: Mr. Edwards, Mr. Messmer, Mrs. McBath, and Mr. Baumgartner
January 14, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 8, 2025
To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide a clear definition of adequate consideration for certain closely held stock, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Retire through Ownership Act
.
Sec. 2. Amending adequate consideration definition
(a) In General
Section 3(18) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(18)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively;
(2)
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;
(3)
by inserting (A)
before The term
; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(B)
(i)
For purposes of clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), a fiduciary of an employee stock ownership plan (as defined in section 407(d)(6)) may in good faith rely upon a valuation provided by an independent valuation expert or business appraiser if such expert or appraiser relied upon the principles and methodologies set forth in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Ruling 59-60 (as amplified, clarified, distinguished, or modified from time to time) in determining the fair market value of the asset.
(ii)
Clause (i) shall not be interpreted to—
(I)
preclude the Secretary from promulgating, in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, any regulation interpreting such clause;
(II)
expand the regulatory authority of the Secretary with respect to the term
adequate considerationbeyond the authority of the Secretary with respect to such term on the day before the date of enactment of the Retire through Ownership Act; or(III)
modify a fiduciary’s obligations under section 404.
(b) Effective Date
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to determinations described in section 3(18)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(18)(B)) (as added by such subsection) that are made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.