July 23, 2025
Mr. Marshall (for himself and Mr. Kaine) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
September 11, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cassidy, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
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.
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)
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)
For purposes of clause (ii), a fiduciary of an employee stock ownership plan as defined in section 407(d)(6) may make a good faith reliance on the principles and methodologies set forth in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Ruling 59–60 (as in effect on the date of enactment of the ERISA Adequate Consideration Act of 2025) in determining the fair market value of an asset described in such clause.
(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.
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)
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 make a good faith reliance on a valuation provided by an independent valuation expert or business appraiser that has relied upon the principles and methodologies set forth in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Ruling 59–60 (as amplified and modified by the Internal Revenue Service from time to time) in determining the fair market value of an asset described in such clause.
(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 such authority available to the Secretary 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.