H.R. 5169 · 119th Congress
Retire through Ownership Act
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R
AllenSponsor4 cosponsors · 1 D, 3 R
0 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill allows the fiduciary of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to rely on a valuation provided by an independent valuation or business appraiser in determining the fair market value of the plan's assets if the assets are not securities for which there is a generally recognized market and the expert or appraiser follows specified methodologies.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Sep 8, 2025
Retire through Ownership Act
This bill allows the fiduciary of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to rely on a valuation provided by an independent valuation or business appraiser in determining the fair market value of the plan's assets if the assets are not securities for which there is a generally recognized market and the expert or appraiser follows specified methodologies.
In general, ESOPs are defined contribution pension plans where employees accrue shares of their employers' stock in individual accounts as part of their compensation. After separating from employment or retiring, employees receive the cash value of their shares.
Under the bill, an independent appraiser or expert must adhere to the methodology established under the Internal Revenue Service Ruling 59-60, which prescribes the factors a professional business appraiser should consider in forming a valuation of the stock for a closely held business.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Retire through Ownership Act
Latest action (Jan 14, 2026): Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 383.
Policy area: Labor and Employment · Origin: House · Introduced: Sep 8, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.