HR 4175119th CongressIn Committee

No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025

Introduced: Jun 26, 2025

Economy & Taxes

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025 would amend 18 U.S.C. § 666 (the illegal gratuities statute) to clarify and broaden the offense related to gratuities in programs that receive federal funds. The bill restructures and expands the statute to cover more scenarios where gifts or improper benefits are tied to official acts by individuals connected with organizations or government entities. It raises the maximum penalty for the core offense from 10 years to 15 years in prison and creates a new, targeted subsection that criminalizes giving, offering, or demanding gratuities of specified values (at least $1,000 for the gratuity, tied to a transaction or series of transactions valued at $5,000 or more) in connection with official acts. The bill is titled the “No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025” and was introduced in the House by Rep. Goldman (NY) with Rep. Ciscomani as a co-sponsor. In practical terms, the bill tightens criminal exposure for individuals and organizations involved with federally funded programs whenever there is an official act influenced by or tied to financial exchanges above set thresholds, and it adds a parallel “receiving/demanding” liability for those acting as agents of organizations or governments.

Key Points

1The bill increases the maximum prison term for the core illegal gratuities offense under 18 U.S.C. § 666 from 10 years to 15 years.
2It creates a new subsection (b) that establishes a separate illegal gratuities offense for giving, offering, or promising anything of value of at least $1,000 to an agent of an organization or government (or related agency), for or because of an official act connected to a business involving at least $5,000 in value.
3It also creates a parallel offense for agents (the “receiving” side): an agent who directly or indirectly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive anything of value of at least $1,000 personally for or because of an official act in connection with business involving at least $5,000.
4The penalties for the new offenses include fines and up to 2 years in prison (or both).
5The statute’s subsection structure is redesigned and cross-referenced to clarify that the possible circumstances include both the original set of conditions and the newly added conditions.
6The title and purpose emphasize preventing improper gratuities in programs that rely on federal funding.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Individuals and entities involved with programs receiving federal funds (e.g., employees, agents, contractors, grantees, and vendors) who might influence or perform official acts in exchange for gifts or other value.Secondary group/area affected:- Public officials and employees at federal, state, local, tribal levels, and their agencies, as well as organizational agents who could be targets or respondents under the new offenses.Additional impacts:- Enforcement and compliance burden on organizations participating in federally funded activities (financial controls, anti-gratuities policies, training).- Potential increase in criminal investigations or prosecutions related to gratuities where the value thresholds are met.- Clarification of liability reaches beyond outright bribery to include certain gift-giving, receipt, or solicitation tied to official acts and sizable business transactions.

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