To clarify the income and gift tax consequences of catching and returning record home run baseballs.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 9, 1998

Provides, with respect to a home run ball hit during the 1998 baseball season by a batter who hit at least 61 home runs during such season, that: (1) no amount shall be included in the gross income of the person recovering such a ball for purposes of subtitle A (Income Taxes) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (2) any gift of such a ball to the batter by the person recovering such a ball shall not be treated as a gift for purposes of subtitle B (Estate and Gift Taxes) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-21] · R–CA

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

17 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.

Sep 9, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Sep 9, 1998
Introduced in House
Sep 9, 1998
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 · Sep 9, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

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: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4522 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4522, 105th Congress: To clarify the income and gift tax consequences of catching and returning record home run baseballs.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4522

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4522/BILLS-105hr4522ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:51:38Z. 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.4522 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.4522 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.4522, 105th Congress: To clarify the income and gift tax consequences of catching and returning record home run baseballs.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4522

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4522/BILLS-105hr4522ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:51:38Z. 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.4522 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.4522 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.4522, 105th Congress: To clarify the income and gift tax consequences of catching and returning record home run baseballs.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4522

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4522/BILLS-105hr4522ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:51:38Z. 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.4522 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.4522 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.4522, 105th Congress: To clarify the income and gift tax consequences of catching and returning record home run baseballs.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4522

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4522/BILLS-105hr4522ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:51:38Z. 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.4522 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.