Bill would anchor ESOP appraisal standard in federal retirement law
Placed on the calendarH.R. 5169Latest action
Sponsor: Rick W. Allen · Representative · GA
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Official title: Retire through Ownership Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
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HR 5169 writes an IRS appraisal standard into federal law to clarify what counts as a fair stock price for employee ownership plans.
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What does this do?
HR 5169 addresses how privately held companies must value their stock when selling shares to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The bill formally incorporates a long-standing IRS standard, Revenue Ruling 59-60, into federal retirement law. This removes existing legal uncertainty about whether following that standard satisfies the requirement to pay a fair price for shares.
Who does it affect?
The bill affects employees at privately held companies with ESOPs, business owners seeking to sell their companies to those plans, and professional appraisers who determine stock value. ESOP fiduciaries, the managers who oversee these plans, are also directly affected.
Why does it matter?
the IRS standard could make it easier to establish ESOPs by reducing legal risk for fiduciaries who hire independent appraisers following Revenue Ruling 59-60. At the same time, the change could make it more difficult for employees to challenge an appraisal, even in cases where they may have overpaid for company stock.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 8, 2025
- House committee
- House voteYou are here · Jan 14, 2026
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 383.