- The US Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees could markup the Market Structure legislation by December.
- Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott says a full floor vote is expected early next year.
Based on the progressions of the legislative process to this point, the US Senate is most likely to vote on the Market Structure legislation in early 2026. The Senate Banking Committee has slated a markup for December, which further reinforces the adjournment of a full floor vote to early next year.
Chair Scott Sets Sights on December for Markup
In a Tuesday Fox interview, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott decried the Democratic Party’s attempts to stall the bipartisan Market Structure legislation. The Chair highlighted that the legislation is meant to serve the average American, and should not be stalled by their counterparts because of President Trump’s interest in the bill and in making America the crypto capital of the world.
Scott further emphasized that the crypto market structure work is about empowering the American people, such as “single moms” like his own mother, by drastically reducing commodity prices and making basic amenities more accessible
According to the lawmaker, they are “aiming to markup bipartisan legislation next month” and send it to President Trump’s desk to preserve America’s economic edge for decades to come.
Just recently, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its draft of the Market Structure bill. Both committees look to markup the bill drafts this year to clear up a more straightforward path for a vote next year.
“Next month,” said Scott, “we believe we can markup in both committees and get to the floor of the Senate early next year so that President Trump will sign the legislation, making America the crypto capital of the world, protecting consumers, while increasing the likelihood of America being the most dominant economic power for the next 100 years.”
Further Delays Expected If Bill Fails To Pass In 2025
The bill’s progress was further stalled by the 43-day government shutdown that many attribute to Democrats. During the shutdown, Congress turned its focus almost entirely on ending the situation and passing a funding bill.
In addition, many committees gave up markups, hearings, and votes while staff who should be involved in drafting the bills were mostly on leave, further pushing the legislation proceedings out of schedule.
Despite the renewed hopes of an 11th-hour markup of the bill this year, the public outlook suggests that the energy exuded by lawmakers does not match their statements about prioritizing it.
Many fear that the chances for a January passage are bleak if the bill does not get signed into law this year. Besides the very busy legislative atmosphere towards the beginning of the year, more delays or another shutdown could arise over budgets, further stretching the enactment of the very critical economic legislation.
Going by the calendar for the 119th US Congress, there are only 15 days for Senate convergence, which leaves a very tight schedule for a possible markup on the Market Structure legislation.
