ROOT for Mainstreet Businesses Act

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 12, 2017

Removing Onerous Obstacles in the Tax code for Mainstreet Businesses Act or the ROOT for Mainstreet Businesses Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of personal holding companies.

The bill excludes from the definition of "personal holding company" a corporation with greater than 50% stock ownership held by nonresident alien individuals with no effectively connected income under tax provisions regarding expatriation to avoid tax or the taxation of nonresident alien individuals.

The bill also excludes from personal holding company income certain rents and royalties that are derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and are not received from a related person.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] · R–KY

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 12, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Oct 12, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 12, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 12, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4045 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.4045, 115th Congress: ROOT for Mainstreet Businesses Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4045

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-10-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4045/BILLS-115hr4045ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:34:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4045 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4045 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4045, 115th Congress: ROOT for Mainstreet Businesses Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4045

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-10-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4045/BILLS-115hr4045ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:34:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4045 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4045 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4045, 115th Congress: ROOT for Mainstreet Businesses Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4045

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-10-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4045/BILLS-115hr4045ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:34:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4045 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4045 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4045, 115th Congress: ROOT for Mainstreet Businesses Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4045

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-10-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4045/BILLS-115hr4045ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:34:22Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4045 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.