Millions of Americans pay rent, utility bills, and phone bills on time every month, but that positive payment history often doesn't show up on their credit reports — which means it doesn't help their credit scores. This bill explicitly allows landlords, utilities, and telecom companies to report on-time payments to credit bureaus, giving renters and others a way to build credit from bills they're already paying. It also protects utility customers on payment plans from being reported as late, and requires a GAO study within two years on how the change is affecting consumers.
Congressional Summary
This bill allows for the reporting of certain positive consumer-credit information (such as the on-time payment of rent or utilities) to consumer reporting agencies.Specifically, a person or the Department of Housing and Urban Development may report information related to a consumer's performance in making payments either under a lease agreement for a dwelling or pursuant to a contract for a utility or telecommunications service. However, information about a consumer's usage of any utility or telecommunications service may be reported only to the extent that the information relates to payment by the consumer for such service or other terms of the provision of that service. Furthermore, an energy utility firm may not report a consumer's outstanding balance as late if the firm and the consumer have entered into a payment plan and the consumer is meeting the obligations of that plan.Specified provisions that establish civil liability with respect to furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies shall not apply to any violation of the bill.The Government Accountability Office must report on the consumer impact of such reporting.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Action Date
- Date Added
- 2026-04-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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