Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025
Sen. Scott Introduces Bill to Help Americans Build Credit Through Rent and Utility Payments
This bill was recently introduced in the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It is in the early stages of the lawmaking process and no further actions are scheduled at this time. The bill is considered active as it waits for the committee to decide on its next steps.
Legislative Progress
While this bill has a history of bipartisan support, the current version is sponsored only by Republicans. Its success depends on whether Democrats agree with the specific consumer protections included.
Key Points
- This bill allows landlords, utility companies, and telecom providers to report on-time payments to credit bureaus. Currently, many of these payments only appear on credit reports when accounts go to collections, meaning people who pay on time get no credit-building benefit.
- The bill covers a broad range of services, including gas, electric, wireless, cable, and other connected utilities. It also specifically includes subsidized housing managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, so people in government-assisted housing can benefit too.
From policy text
“including such a lease in which the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides subsidized payments for occupancy in a dwelling”
View in full text - Only payment-related information can be shared with credit bureaus. Details about how much energy, water, or other utilities a person actually uses cannot be reported, protecting consumer privacy.
From policy text
“Information about the usage by a consumer of any utility service provided by a utility or telecommunication firm may be furnished to a consumer reporting agency only to the extent that the information relates to the payment by the consumer for the service”
View in full text - Energy utility companies cannot report a balance as late if a customer has entered a payment plan, debt forgiveness program, or arrearage management program and is meeting those obligations. This protects people going through tough financial times from having their credit harmed.
- The Government Accountability Office must study and report to Congress within two years on how this new reporting has affected consumers, providing accountability for whether the law is actually helping people.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
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.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.