What changed between these versions
A substantive modification and deletion occurred between v1 and v2. The short title of the Act has been updated from "Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025" to "Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2026." More significantly, v2 removes the consumer opt-out provision, which in v1 allowed consumers to prevent their lease, utility, and telecommunications payment information from being furnished to credit reporting agencies.
Overview
A handful of changes, primarily one significant deletion and one minor modification. · v2 narrows consumer control over their data by removing an opt-out mechanism, while also updating the bill's short title.
The most significant change in v2 is the deletion of the consumer opt-out provision in Section 2(a), which previously allowed individuals to prevent their lease, utility, and telecommunications payment data from being reported to consumer reporting agencies. This change removes a key consumer protection mechanism present in v1. Additionally, the short title of the Act has been updated from "Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025" to "Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2026." All other substantive provisions related to permitted reporting, definitions, payment plan protections, and the GAO study remain unchanged.
Deletions
This provision in v1 allowed a consumer to opt-out of the furnishing of information described in paragraph (2) (relating to lease agreements, utilities, and telecommunications services) by submitting a written request to the furnisher of such information.
The deletion of this opt-out provision removes a critical consumer protection mechanism. In v1, consumers had agency over whether their non-traditional payment data would be included in their credit reports. Its removal means that once the bill becomes law, consumers will no longer have the explicit right to prevent this specific type of full-file reporting, potentially leading to more widespread reporting of this data without individual consent.
Modifications
This is a minor, administrative change with no operative impact on the policy or implementation of the Act, other than updating its official designation.
Before
The Act was to be cited as the 'Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025'.
After
The Act is now to be cited as the 'Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2026'.
Scope
Meaningful expansion or narrowing — Changes are concentrated in two specific areas: the short title and a single subsection within the new full-file reporting provisions. — v2 represents a meaningful shift in policy direction regarding consumer control over data. While the core purpose of expanding credit reporting remains, the removal of the opt-out provision significantly alters the balance between data inclusion and consumer privacy/consent. — The deletion of the opt-out provision directly impacts the implementation of the full-file credit reporting mechanism established in the same section, removing a key safeguard for consumers regarding the furnishing of their lease, utility, and telecommunications payment information.
Impact analysis
Consumers whose lease, utility, or telecommunications payment information would be furnished to consumer reporting agencies.
Negative, as it removes a consumer protection and choice mechanism.
In v1, these consumers had the explicit right to opt-out of such reporting. In v2, this right is removed, meaning their payment information can be furnished without their ability to prevent it.