US Senate Agriculture Committee Sets Jan. 27 Markup Hearing Date for CLARITY Act

The US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has set 27 January as the markup hearing date for the CLARITY Act. It is a major crypto market structure bill aimed at establishing clearer regulatory oversight for the digital asset industry. The committee confirmed that the markup will take place six days after the release of the bill’s legislative text on 21 January. 

The Agriculture Committee oversees the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is one of the two regulators that are expected to play a central role under the proposed framework. 

CLARITY Act Ready for Senate 

Committee Chairman John Boozman said the timeline is designed to promote careful consideration and transparency. He said, “This schedule ensures transparency and allows for thorough review as the committee moves forward with legislation to provide clarity and certainty for crypto markets.” He also praised bipartisan cooperation, thanking Senator Cory Booker and committee staff for their work on rules intended to protect consumers while encouraging innovation. 

A markup hearing is a critical step in the legislative process. During markup hearings, committee members debate the bill’s provisions, finalize text, and propose and vote on amendments. Once completed, the committee then votes on whether to advance the bill to the full Senate for consideration. 

Even if the Senate approves the CLARITY Act, it would still need to pass the House of Representatives before being sent to President Donald Trump for signature. Lawmakers remain mindful of potential delays as a lengthy government shutdown slowed progress on crypto-related legislation last year. While another shutdown is possible later this month if the funding bill is halted, a full shutdown is currently considered unlikely.  

The momentum around the bill is picking up pace. Earlier this week, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Paul Atkins said he is “bullish” on the chances of President Trump signing the legislation this year. On the other hand, the SEC has scheduled its own markup hearing for Thursday. 

The CLARITY Act aims to define the respective roles of CFTC and SEC as primary regulators of the US crypto industry. The industry participants welcome this bill, as they are eager to eliminate long-standing regulatory gray areas.