All Roll Calls
Yes: 480 • No: 371
119-hr-6955119th CongressWALLET
Main Street Capital Access Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
Passed House
Summary
Reduce regulatory friction for small banks and boost transparency and independent review. The bill speeds new‑bank timelines, indexes regulatory thresholds to inflation or GDP, creates an independent appeals office for exam disputes, and expands transparency and support for community development lenders.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.
Index thresholds and tailor bank rules
This bill would raise many bank rule dollar thresholds every five years. The Federal Reserve would pick GDP or CPI within 3 months, publish new amounts by April 5 in update years, and the higher amounts would take effect the next January 1. Agencies would also review rules more often, study the total impact on access and costs, and tailor new rules to different types of institutions. Agencies would report on tailoring within 1 year and yearly after, and GAO would review effects within 18 months.
Stronger rights to challenge exam findings
This bill would set firm timelines for exams: finish within 270 days, hold an exit meeting within 30 days, and deliver the final report within 90 days. A new independent board inside the FFIEC would hear de novo appeals of material supervisory decisions and keep supervisory information confidential. Agencies would offer prudential private letter rulings with 30‑day acknowledgments and generally 60‑day decisions, and could not retaliate against appeals. Banks or individuals could move some enforcement hearings to a U.S. district court within 20 days. Agencies would also propose clearer CAMELS rating rules, with at least 90 days for public comment.
Changes to reciprocal deposits and eligibility
The cap on reciprocal deposits treated as non‑brokered would rise to $250 billion. To qualify as an agent institution, a bank would need a CAMELS rating of 1, 2, or 3 at its last section 10(d) exam, with an exception for newly insured banks. The FDIC could grant waivers case by case to avoid safety and soundness harm. The FDIC and the Fed would study reciprocal deposit use since 2018 and report to Congress within 6 months.
New rules for failed‑bank sales and bidders
In limited cases, the FDIC would be able to choose a resolution that is not the least‑cost option if it limits more concentration in the biggest banks. The FDIC would set, within 1 year, a cap on any extra cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund, and buyers would pay assessments over at least 5 years. When agencies waive concentration limits in a failing‑bank deal, they would have to post a detailed 30‑day report to Congress. Regulators would also study “shelf charters” and bidder rules and report within 1 year to broaden qualified bidders.
Faster, clearer merger and charter decisions
Agencies would have 30 days to say if an application is complete (up to 60 days for complex cases) and then 120 days from initial filing to grant or deny, or it would be deemed granted. The FDIC, Fed, OCC, and NCUA would publish yearly public reports on application counts, outcomes, and average approval times, including state‑by‑state data. GAO would study merger review practices within 1 year, and inspectors general would review agency merger processes every 3 years and publish reports.
Lighter exams and reports for small banks
Banks and credit unions with $6 billion or less in assets would get exam relief. After a full-scope on‑site exam, the next exam would be limited‑scope, with fewer examiners and shorter visits when possible, and combined exams on request. Agencies would report average exam staff experience, examiner counts, and on‑site time each year. Banks that qualify for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio would use a shorter call report for the 1st and 3rd quarters. The small bank holding company threshold would rise to $6 billion within 180 days.
Limits on guidance and ‘reputation’ risk
Financial agencies would have to put a clear notice on new guidance that it is not law and is not binding. Each bank regulator would study its use of “reputational risk” in supervision. If dropping it would not harm safety and soundness, the agency would remove it from guidance and stop using it in exams or enforcement, then report changes to Congress within 180 days.
Review and fix Fed discount window
The Federal Reserve would review discount window lending within 60 days and finish within 240 days. The review would cover liquidity in stress, technology, cybersecurity, access, hours, mobile‑banking impacts, and stigma. The Fed would deliver a remediation plan and report to Congress within 365 days, with semi‑annual testimony and annual progress reports until fixes are done.
Study bank and credit‑union fintech partnerships
Regulators would study how banks and credit unions partner with fintech firms. The reviews would cover competition, innovation, consumer protection, and access to services. The Fed, OCC, and FDIC would report on banks, and the NCUA would report on credit unions, within 1 year.
Extend and tune CDFI bond guarantees
The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program would run through December 31, 2028. Each guarantee would be at least $25 million, with a $1 billion cap per year. Treasury could charge a fee of 0.10% to 0.15%. Treasury would report on program results within 3 years and may testify to Congress each year on CDFI operations.
Cut Federal Reserve surplus in 2036
A specified Federal Reserve amount would be reduced by $425 million on September 1, 2036. This is a system‑level fiscal change and would not directly affect most households.
Longer holds for merchant banking investments
Rules would set the normal holding period for merchant banking investments at 15 years or more. Existing investments would follow a 15‑year minimum from the original investment date. The Fed would study these investments, including in housing and infrastructure, and report to Congress within 18 months.
Community bank pilots may become permanent
Between January 1 and June 30, 2031, regulators would decide if certain pilot rules harmed qualifying community banks. If harm is found, the rules would only apply to banks insured before that decision. If not, the rules would become permanent. A related deadline would be cut from 180 days to 90 days, and a prior end date would be removed so coverage applies on or after January 1, 2026.
Updates to FDIC board and council rules
FDIC board rules would change: one member must have state bank supervisory experience and one must have experience with banks under $17 billion. No member could serve more than two terms or 12 years total. The FFIEC law would clarify which agencies are covered for certain sections and exclude uninsured credit unions from some parts. Cost‑sharing on the council’s office would shift to one‑fourth among listed agencies, with annual assessments allowed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
AR • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
KY • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
MI • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3]
OK • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
MO • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6]
MN • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]
GA • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]
OH • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]
TN • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
WI • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4]
SC • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3]
IN • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
SC • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5]
WI • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]
TN • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
IA • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9]
MI • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]
MT • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]
FL • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]
NC • R
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
UT • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13]
NC • R
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]
ND • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 7/21/2026
On Motion to Recommit
Yes: 210 • No: 216
house vote • 7/21/2026
On Passage
Yes: 270 • No: 155