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119-s-337119th CongressWALLET

Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act

Sponsored By: Senator Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

In Committee

Summary

Consolidates federal enforcement of household-goods moving rules under the Secretary of Transportation. The bill shifts and broadens penalty authority to the Secretary, lets states use federal grants to enforce household goods laws, and tightens registration and disclosure rules for movers and brokers.

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  • Families and consumers gain clearer accountability from movers and brokers because the Secretary can assess a wider range of civil penalties and the law standardizes disclosure rules to make ownership and control relationships more transparent.
  • States may use federal grant funds to enforce federal household-goods statutes for interstate moves and compatible intrastate moves, and states will retain penalties and fines they assess on carriers or brokers.
  • Motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders must designate a single principal place of business, disclose common ownership or control going back three years, and risk withholding, suspension, amendment, or revocation of registration for noncompliance.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New registration rules for moving companies

If enacted, the bill would require employers, carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to name a single principal place of business to get a registration or USDOT number. That place would be the single physical location where managers report to work, a significant part of the transportation business happens, and required records are kept. Brokers and freight forwarders would also have to disclose any common ownership, management, control, or family relationships with another carrier or broker in the prior three years. The Transportation Secretary could withhold, suspend, change, or cancel a registration if a registrant fails to designate a valid principal place of business.

Moving companies face stronger federal penalties

If enacted, the bill would let the Transportation Secretary assess civil penalties by written notice after giving notice and a chance for a hearing for violations of household-goods transport rules. The bill would update existing law so places that now refer to the old Board would instead refer to the Secretary. It would also expand legal cross-references to include additional sections (for example, sections 311 and 313), widening the statutory bases the Secretary can enforce. Moving companies and brokers would face greater enforcement risk and possible fines.

States can use grants to police movers

If enacted, the bill would let States use federal section 31102 grant funds to enforce federal household-goods rules for interstate moves. States could also use those funds to enforce in-state moves only if the State has laws or rules that match federal household-goods rules. These enforcement actions would be optional for States and not a condition for receiving grant money. The bill would also require that any fine or penalty a State imposes on a carrier or broker in a covered proceeding be paid to and kept by that State.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

NE • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/30/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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