US HB7488

Establishes the Office of the Chief Economist within the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), headed by a Chief Economist who serves as economic advisor to the Commission

Chief Economist responsibilities include economic analysis, regulatory cost-benefit analysis, and research on matters under CFTC jurisdiction

Grants the CFTC special hiring authority to appoint economists, research analysts, and data specialists to the Office through the excepted service, bypassing standard competitive service requirements

Eligible positions include those requiring specialized knowledge of futures, swaps, commodities markets, financial regulation, market surveillance, data analysis, or information technology

Requires the CFTC to coordinate with the Office of the Chief Economist when conducting cost-benefit analyses, and adds market liquidity as a required consideration in regulatory assessments