Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

HJRES17 was introduced on January 13, 2025 by Rep. Obernolte (R-CA) and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it remains with no further action. The bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the federal budget to be balanced unless two-thirds of each chamber votes to allow a deficit. As a proposed constitutional amendment, this resolution faces an extraordinarily high procedural bar: two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. With only 2 cosponsors and no committee movement in over 15 months, this bill has no realistic legislative path in the 119th Congress. The resolution authorizes no spending, creates no tax changes, and triggers no sector-specific regulatory effects. Any claim that this bill would affect markets, companies, or sectors would be fabrication. The impact on any public company is zero. Investors should monitor actual appropriations bills, tax legislation, or sector-specific authorization bills for relevant market signals. This bill is legislative messaging, not market-moving policy.