Bills · HR 166
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 166Finance and Financial Sector
Fair Lending for All Act
INTRO JAN 3· LAST ACTION JAN 3
READING
7MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it aims to make it harder for lenders to discriminate against people, ensuring fairer access to credit which is essential for things like buying homes, starting businesses, and building financial stability. If this bill becomes law, it would significantly broaden the types of discrimination considered illegal, adding protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and preventing practices that might unfairly target people based on their address or income source. It also introduces serious criminal penalties, moving beyond just civil fines, which could deter discriminatory practices more effectively and hold individuals responsible for systemic unfairness.
If the bill does not become law, the existing protections under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act would remain in place, but without the expanded categories, the new testing office, or the added criminal penalties. This means certain forms of discrimination might continue unchecked, and victims would have fewer avenues for justice, potentially leading to ongoing disparities in access to credit for vulnerable populations.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishes an Office of Fair Lending Testing within the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
This office would proactively identify discriminatory lending practices through undercover investigations, making it easier to catch rule-breakers.
PROVISION 02
Expands the prohibited bases for credit discrimination to include sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP Code or census tract, and income from public assistance programs.
This broadens anti-discrimination protections to include more groups of people and addresses emerging forms of bias in lending.
PROVISION 03
Introduces criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, including fines and imprisonment for individuals and corporate officers.
This provides much stronger deterrents against credit discrimination, elevating the consequences beyond civil fines to include incarceration.
PROVISION 04
Broadens the definition of an "aggrieved person" who can seek relief for discriminatory credit practices to include organizations that have diverted resources to address discrimination.
This provision empowers a wider range of victims and advocacy groups to pursue legal action against discriminatory lenders.
PROVISION 05
Requires the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to review loan applications and processes to ensure they do not violate the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
This adds another layer of oversight to prevent discrimination directly within the lending application process itself.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
D· Texas
YRS IN OFFICE
21
BILLS LED
53
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSJAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 166
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Last actionJan 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025
House BillHR 166Finance and Financial Sector
Fair Lending for All Act
INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
7 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
