S. 2347Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2018

Introduced January 25, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 8:10 PM UTC

The Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2018 amends the Securities Act of 1933 to broaden who can use “testing the waters” communications and confidential draft registration statements. It extends these practices from emerging growth companies to any issuer, and gives the SEC new authority to set additional conditions and to report any proposed rules to Congress. The changes affect companies planning an initial public offering and the SEC’s regulatory process.

Key Provisions

  • Amends Section 5(d) to allow any issuer (not just emerging growth companies) to engage in testing‑the‑waters oral or written communications, and authorizes the SEC to issue additional requirements for such communications, with a required report to Congress before rulemaking.
  • Amends Section 6(e) (renamed “Draft Registration Statements”) to permit any issuer to confidentially submit draft registration statements before an IPO or within one year after an IPO, provided the draft and any amendments are made public at least 15 days before a roadshow or the requested effective date.
  • Gives the SEC authority to adopt regulations, after notice and comment, imposing further terms on confidential draft submissions by non‑emerging growth issuers, and requires the SEC to submit a findings report to Congress before any such rulemaking.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-354.

June 26, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 25, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

January 25, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-354.

June 26, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 25, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2347

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 25, 2018

Mr. Tillis (for himself and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Securities Act of 1933 to expand the ability to use testing the waters and confidential draft registration submissions, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2018.

2.

Expanding testing the waters and confidential submissions

The Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 5(d)—

(A)

by striking Notwithstanding and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding

;

(B)

by striking an emerging growth company or any person authorized to act on behalf of an emerging growth company and inserting an issuer or any person authorized to act on behalf of an issuer; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Additional requirements

(A)

In general

The Commission may issue regulations, subject to public notice and comment, to impose such other terms, conditions, or requirements on the engaging in oral or written communications described under paragraph (1) by an issuer other than an emerging growth company as the Commission determines appropriate.

(B)

Report to Congress

Prior to any rulemaking described under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing a list of the findings supporting the basis of such rulemaking.

; and

(2)

in section 6(e)—

(A)

in the heading, by striking Emerging growth companies and inserting Draft registration statements;

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and

(C)

by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

(1)

Prior to initial public offering

Any issuer, prior to its initial public offering date, may confidentially submit to the Commission a draft registration statement, for confidential nonpublic review by the staff of the Commission prior to public filing, provided that the initial confidential submission and all amendments thereto shall be publicly filed with the Commission not later than 15 days before the date on which the issuer conducts a road show (as defined under section 230.433(h)(4) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations) or, in the absence of a road show, at least 15 days prior to the requested effective date of the registration statement.

(2)

Within one year after initial public offering or exchange registration

Any issuer, within the one-year period following its initial public offering or its registration of a security under section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, may confidentially submit to the Commission a draft registration statement, for confidential nonpublic review by the staff of the Commission prior to public filing, provided that the initial confidential submission and all amendments thereto shall be publicly filed with the Commission not later than 15 days before the date on which the issuer conducts a road show (as defined under section 230.433(h)(4) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations) or, in the absence of a road show, at least 15 days prior to the requested effective date of the registration statement.

(3)

Additional requirements

(A)

In general

The Commission may issue regulations, subject to public notice and comment, to impose such other terms, conditions, or requirements on the submission of draft registration statements described under this subsection by an issuer other than an emerging growth company as the Commission determines appropriate.

(B)

Report to Congress

Prior to any rulemaking described under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall issue a report to the Congress containing a list of the findings supporting the basis of such rulemaking.

.