Main Street Capital Access Act
House Committee Reviews Main Street Capital Access Act to Ease Rules for Community Banks
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Would give newly created banks up to 3 years to fully meet federal capital rules, aiming to make it easier to start new local banks.
- Sets faster timelines for regulators to act on certain bank applications (often 30 or 90 days), and in some cases approvals would be automatic if the agency misses the deadline.
- Loosens and updates several rules for smaller banks, including expanding who can use a simpler capital framework and raising the size limit for certain small bank holding company rules to $25 billion.
- Changes how bank exams work by pushing for clearer, more objective ratings, faster exam reports, and a new independent office where banks can appeal major exam decisions.
- Adjusts rules affecting bank funding and mergers, including wider deposit exceptions for some community banks and less competition review for mergers that end under $10 billion in assets.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 16.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesHill, Barr introduce community banking package
House Financial Services Chair French Hill and Andy Barr introduced the Main Street Capital Access Act, a package of 29 bills aimed at easing regulations on small and mid-size banks. The legislation seeks to codify 'common sense' tailoring based on complexity, risk, and size.
House Committee Torn on Next Move for Affordable Housing
Rep. French Hill pointed to the Main Street Capital Access Act as a tool for housing affordability. The bill would tailor bank regulation and improve access to funding for small banks, though committee members remain divided on broader housing policy directions.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Main Street Capital Access Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(33)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.