Bill · H.R. 4096· House(119-HR-4096)
Financial Empowerment and Protection Act
- Introduced
- 6/24/2025
- Last activity
- 6/24/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Sean Casten
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Financial Empowerment and Protection Act requires covered companies to allow consenting cohabitating adults to open joint accounts for managing services and bills. These accounts must include the names of both adults, and companies must provide information, bills, and online access upon request. Companies are also required to provide specific notices regarding shared information and privacy. Additionally, the bill amends the Violence Against Women Act to prohibit fees for early lease termination for certain individuals. This applies to applicants or tenants of covered housing programs who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would women be better off under this?+7
Protects victims of domestic violence and sexual assault from lease termination fees.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The prohibition on lease termination fees provides financial relief for low-income victims of violence.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+5
The bill enhances consumer protection by ensuring cohabitating adults have access to joint account information and civil recourse for failures.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Imposes new administrative requirements and potential liability for covered companies.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Joint Account Management: Covered companies must allow consenting cohabitating adults to open joint accounts to manage services and bills, which can include electric, gas, water, internet, and telephone services (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Information Access: Each cohabitating adult who opens a joint account can request and receive information related to the account, including bills, copies of mail, and access to online portals (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Transparency through Notices: Companies are required to provide a notice explaining what information will be shared with the cohabitating adults, and if required by Regulation P, they must provide specific privacy notices (Section 2(a)(4) and Section 2(a)(5)).
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Legal Accountability: If a covered company fails to meet the requirements regarding joint accounts, a cohabitating adult may bring a civil action in Federal or State court for an award of up to $1,000 for each failure (Section 2(a)(6)).
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Protection from Lease Termination Fees: Applicants or tenants of covered housing programs who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking can voluntarily exit a lease early without being charged a fee (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No explicit negative impacts are listed in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+7Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Business Owners-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+5
- 6/24/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Jennifer KiggansRepublican · Virginia