Cost Estimate Clarity Act

Sponsor: Ben Cline (Republican-VA)April 29, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Requires government budget office to show how it calculates costs.

This bill would make the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) explain how it arrives at its cost estimates for new laws. This means lawmakers and the public would get a clearer picture of how much proposed bills truly cost, especially when certain assumptions are made. It aims to make federal spending more transparent.

What Would Change

Today, the Congressional Budget Office provides cost estimates for new laws, but these estimates don't always clearly show how certain underlying assumptions affect the numbers. If this bill becomes law, the CBO would have to explain these assumptions, quantify their impact, and identify specific assumptions that make costs appear lower, giving a more complete financial picture.

Key Provisions

Requires the Congressional Budget Office to explain how its baseline assumptions affect its cost estimates for new laws.
Requires the CBO to provide a number showing the difference between its estimate and what the cost would be without those baseline assumptions.
Requires the CBO to identify which specific baseline assumptions caused that cost difference.
Requires the CBO to explain if baseline assumptions make a program's cost look lower than expected, especially if it assumes a program will continue.

View on Congress.gov

HR 8570 · 119th Congress · April 29, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

Cost Estimate Clarity Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity