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HJRES 139
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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

H. J. RES. 139 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

Introduced Jan 9, 2026

Latest action (Mar 18, 2026) On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).

Referred to
Judiciary Committee
Policy area
Economics and Public Finance
Issues
Economy & Taxes
Legislative subjects (4)
Budget deficits and national debtBudget processConstitution and constitutional amendmentsLegislative rules and procedure

Summary

House Joint Resolution 139 proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that would require the federal government to maintain a balanced budget. Under the proposed amendment, total federal expenditures for a year would not exceed the average annual receipts from the three prior years, adjusted for population changes and inflation, with exceptions for debt payments and borrowing. Congress could override the spending limit by a two-thirds roll call vote in each House for specific expenditures, or by a simple roll call vote during years in which a declaration of war is in effect. The amendment would also require a two-thirds vote by the whole number of each House to approve any bill that levies a new tax or increases an existing tax rate. The amendment would take effect five years after ratification by three-fourths of the states.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
2 cosponsors

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Andy Biggs’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

  • SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $9,900
  • 21ST CENTURY HEALTHCARE $7,500
  • ULINE $6,600
  • TW LEWIS COMPANY $6,600
  • LEE BENSON $6,600

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Andy Biggs → · Outside spending →

Actions (13)
  1. Mar 18, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95). · house
  2. Mar 18, 2026 Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 211 - 207 (Roll no. 95).
  3. Mar 18, 2026 Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2583-2584) · house
  4. Mar 18, 2026 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. · house
  5. Mar 18, 2026 DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1115, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.J. Res. 139 · house
  6. Mar 18, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2560-2568; text: CR H2560-2561) · house
  7. Mar 18, 2026 Mr. Biggs (AZ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution. · house
  8. Feb 25, 2026 Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 63. · house
  9. Feb 25, 2026 Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-520. · house
  10. Feb 3, 2026 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 10. · house
  11. Feb 3, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
  12. Jan 9, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
  13. Jan 9, 2026 Introduced in House

How your representatives voted

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Roll-call votes (1)

How the chamber voted on this bill — the outcome, the tally by party, and every member's recorded position. A factual record.

More bills on these subjects (8)

Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).

  • HCONRES 113 — Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2028 through 2036. (shares 3 subjects)
  • SCONRES 33 — A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035. (shares 3 subjects)
  • SCONRES 22 — A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035. (shares 3 subjects)
  • HCONRES 14 — Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034. (shares 3 subjects)
  • SCONRES 7 — An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034. (shares 3 subjects)
  • HCONRES 10 — Emergency Border Control Resolution (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 1092 — Responsible Budgeting Act (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 222 — Sustainable Budget Act of 2025 (shares 3 subjects)

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • SJRES 97 — A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. · Introduced Nov 20, 2025 · Cong. 119 83%
  • HJRES 191 — Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that Congress and the States shall have certain authority to regulate and limit contributions and spending in campaigns for elections for public office, elections for public office, and ballot initiatives and referendums. · Introduced Jun 3, 2026 · Cong. 119 74%
  • HRES 313 — Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034, and for other purposes. · Passed House Sep 16, 2025 · Cong. 119 71%
  • SJRES 78 — A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the authority of Congress and the States to regulate contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections and to enact public financing systems for political campaigns. · Introduced Sep 17, 2025 · Cong. 119 70%
  • HRES 1142 — Providing for disposition of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 7147) making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes. · Passed House Mar 27, 2026 · Cong. 119 70%
  • HR 7295 — Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act of 2026 · Introduced Jan 30, 2026 · Cong. 119 70%

Text versions (2)
  • Reported in House · Feb 25, 2026
  • Introduced in House · Jan 9, 2026

Committee action

What happened to this bill in committee — the meetings where it was considered and every recorded vote taken on it.

Meetings where this bill was on the agenda

Full text

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2026

Mr. Biggs of Arizona submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

February 25, 2026

Additional sponsors: Mr. Clyde and Mr. Brecheen

February 25, 2026

Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

“Article—

“Section 1. Total expenditures for a year shall not exceed the average annual receipts collected in the three prior years, adjusted in proportion to the changes in the population of citizens of the United States and inflation. Total expenditures shall include all expenditures of the United States except those for payment of debt, and receipts shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing. “Section 2. Congress may by a roll call vote of two-thirds of each House provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1. “Section 3. Congress may by a roll call vote provide by law for specific expenditures in excess of the limit in section 1 for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect. “Section 4. Any bill to levy a new tax or to increase the rate of any tax shall not become law unless approved by two-thirds of the whole number of each House of Congress by a roll call vote. “Section 5. Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation. “Section 6. This article shall take effect with the fifth year beginning after ratification.”. House Calendar No. 63

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. J. RES. 139

[Report No. 119-520]

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government.

February 25, 2026

Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

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