Skip to main content
EnglishEspañol

All bills

Proposed amendment would require federal budget to balance each year

In committeeH.J.Res. 17Latest action

Sponsor: Jay Obernolte · Representative · CA

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record
Read the official text

Official title: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

119th Congress

Topics: Jobs & the economy

Introduced:

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.

This proposed constitutional amendment would require balanced federal budgets unless two-thirds of Congress votes to allow a deficit.

45-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget each year, spending no more than it collects unless two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote to allow otherwise. It requires the president to submit a balanced budget proposal annually and directs Congress to pass enforcement laws, using estimates when needed. If ratified, it would take effect five later.

Who does it affect?

This affects nearly every American, since it could change funding for programs like Social Security, Medicare, defense, education, and infrastructure. It also requires action from Congress, the president, and three-fourths of state legislatures for ratification.

Why does it matter?

Supporters argue it would control growth, while critics worry it could force spending cuts or tax increases during economic downturns. As a constitutional amendment, it faces a high approval bar and does not require the president's signature.

AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

Make the call

Three steps: where you stand, your script, the call.

Where do you stand?

Where does it stand?

  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. House committeeYou are here · Jan 13, 2025
  3. House vote
  4. Senate
  5. Sent to the states

Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House. Both chambers have to pass the same text, each by two thirds. A proposed constitutional amendment never goes to the president: it goes to the states, and three quarters of them have to ratify it before it takes effect.

Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Data as of October 9, 2026
See how a call works

Share this bill

Share on WhatsApp

How it's being covered

Coverage of this bill from across the press. Each outlet's political lean is labeled where AllSides has rated it, and marked "Not rated" where it has not.

Newest of these articles:

Coverage of this bill so far comes from one side of the spectrum. Read it with that in mind.

Lean labels describe the news outlet, not this bill or any party. Ratings by AllSides.