Senate bill shifts proxy votes to index fund investors

What does this do?

This bill would require investment advisers who manage index funds and similar passively managed funds to pass voting decisions back to the individual investors who own shares in those funds. When a fund holds more than 1 percent of a company's shares, the adviser must ask each investor how they want their votes cast and then follow those instructions. If an investor does not respond, the adviser generally cannot vote those shares, with limited exceptions for routine matters or certain votes requiring majority approval.

Who does it affect?

This bill affects investment advisers managing index funds, including large firms like BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street, as well as the individual investors in those funds, including everyday retirement savers. It also affects the companies whose shareholder votes would now reflect a wider range of individual investors rather than a small number of large asset managers.

Why does it matter?

Right now, large investment firms vote enormous blocks of shares on behalf of millions of investors, giving those firms significant influence over major U.S. companies. This bill would shift that influence toward individual investors.

Where does it stand?