The Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025 would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to allow certain full-file consumer credit information to be reported to consumer reporting agencies. It specifically covers payment performance on lease agreements for dwellings, utility or telecommunications contracts, and certain utility-payment details, while also letting consumers opt out in writing. The bill would also bar energy utilities from reporting a consumer as late on an outstanding balance if the customer is successfully following an approved payment plan. A GAO report would be required within 2 years to study the consumer impact and the effect of reporting cash-flow data on credit scores.
What This Bill Does
- Lets lease-payment history be reported to consumer reporting agencies, including HUD-subsidized housing leases.
- Allows reporting of payment performance for utility and telecommunications service contracts.
- Limits utility reporting to payment-related information, deposits, discounts, and interruption/termination terms.
- Bars energy utilities from reporting a balance as late while a consumer is current on an approved payment plan.
- Requires a GAO report within 2 years on consumer effects and credit-score impacts of cash-flow reporting.
Who This Bill Affects
For a typical American, this bill would mainly matter if you rent housing, pay utility bills, or use phone/internet service and want those payments to count toward your credit history. If those payments are reported positively, some consumers could build credit more easily; if they miss payments, those accounts could also show up in credit files unless they exercise the bill’s written opt-out. The practical effect is strongest for people with thin credit files or those trying to recover from past credit problems.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Renters with thin credit histories Supporters argue that rent payments are a major monthly obligation that often goes unrecognized by credit bureaus. Reporting on-time lease payments could help responsible renters build a credit record and improve access to loans or future housing.
- Consumers trying to rebuild credit Consumers who reliably pay utilities, telecom bills, or arrearage plans could benefit if those payments are counted in credit files. The bill could make ordinary bill-paying behavior more useful for establishing creditworthiness.
- Landlords, utilities, and telecom providers These stakeholders may support the bill because it creates a clearer federal rule for furnishing payment information and could encourage on-time payment behavior. It also allows consumers to opt out, which may help address privacy concerns.
- Consumer privacy advocates Opponents may argue that expanding reporting beyond traditional loans broadens the amount of personal household-payment data stored by credit bureaus. Even with an opt-out, consumers would need to take active steps to avoid data sharing.
- Consumers who miss bills or fall behind People with unstable incomes could be harmed if rent, utility, or telecom delinquencies appear in credit files and lower scores. That can make it harder to qualify for housing, credit, or essential services later.
- Some utility and housing assistance advocates They may worry that tying basic necessities more closely to credit reporting increases the penalties for hardship-related arrears. Although the bill protects consumers in certain payment plans, it could still intensify the consequences of missed payments outside those arrangements.
Key Implications
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““a person or the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may furnish””
This authorizes both private furnishers and HUD to report qualifying payment information, which could broaden the flow of rent-related data into credit files, including some subsidized housing contexts.
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““information relating to the performance of a consumer in making payments””
The bill is focused on payment performance, not general account behavior. For consumers, that means timely payment can potentially help build credit, while late payment may hurt it if reported.
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““only to the extent that the information relates to the payment””
This limits utility reporting to payment-related terms, deposits, discounts, and interruption or termination conditions. It is meant to keep the reporting narrower than a full account history.
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““may not report payment information ... as late””
Energy utilities would be blocked from labeling a balance late when the customer is complying with a payment plan. That reduces the risk that someone working through arrears is punished as though they were still delinquent.
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““A consumer may opt-out ... by submitting a written request””
Consumers have a formal way to refuse reporting, but the burden is on them to request it in writing from the furnisher. That creates a privacy safeguard, though not an automatic one.
Official Source & Bill Facts
BillBoard checks this page against public Congress.gov metadata, then adds plain-English analysis where available.
- Bill
- HR 5402
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Official title
- Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025
- Policy area
- Economy & Finance
- Latest action
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23. (June 30, 2026)
- Last updated
- July 4, 2026
Latest Status
June 30, 2026
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23.
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Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.