PRIA Logo™
119-hr-4489119th CongressWALLET

Sunshine on Solar Lending Act

Sponsored By: Representative Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]

Introduced

Summary

Clearer, upfront disclosures for solar financing deals. The bill would add new Truth in Lending Act rules so creditors must tell consumers about fees, third-party participants, and cash-price comparisons, and it would ban mandatory arbitration for these contracts.

Show full summary
  • Consumers and households: Would get written disclosures listing any fee a creditor charges to a third party, any fee the consumer might pay, the identity of third parties, and a side-by-side comparison of the financed amount (including finance charges) with the total cash price for products and services. In-person transactions must include a paper copy of these disclosures.
  • Sellers and installers: Fees or "seller's points" that a creditor imposes on a noncreditor seller for offering credit would be treated as part of the solar financing transaction and subject to the disclosure rules.
  • Creditors and third-party funders: Must disclose fees charged to third parties and fees payable by consumers for solar financing covering purchase, installation, or related costs.
  • Scope and consumer protections: Applies to consumer credit for solar energy systems, including panels, inverters, battery storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and related infrastructure, and it prohibits contract terms that force arbitration or other nonjudicial dispute procedures.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Clearer solar loan costs and disclosures

If enacted, solar lenders would have to give clear written disclosures. They would list any fees charged to or by third parties, name those parties, and compare the financed amount (with finance charges) to the cash price for each product and each service, including labor, infrastructure, maintenance, and repair. For in-person deals, you would get a paper copy. Seller-paid points and similar charges would count as part of the solar loan and appear in the disclosures.

No forced arbitration for solar loans

If enacted, solar financing contracts could not force arbitration or any other private process. If you have a dispute about a covered solar loan, you could take it to court.

What loans are covered and when rules start

This would define a solar financing transaction as consumer credit to buy or install a solar energy system. It would cover panels, inverters, batteries, electric vehicle chargers, and related parts and work. The new rules would take effect no later than 60 days after enactment and would apply to deals signed on or after that date.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]

TX • D

Cosponsors

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation