Financial Empowerment and Protection Act
Sponsored By: Representative Casten
Introduced
Summary
A right for consenting cohabiting adults to open joint accounts with certain covered entities. The bill would create a consumer-access policy that requires covered entities to allow consenting adults who live together to open joint accounts and sets related privacy, information-sharing, enforcement, and liability rules. It would also ban fees for early lease termination for victims of domestic violence as described in the Violence Against Women Act.
Show full summary
- Families and couples: Cohabiting adults could open joint accounts when both consent. This creates a clearer path for shared access and privacy protections.
- Survivors of domestic violence: People who meet protections under the Violence Against Women Act could end a lease early without paying an early termination fee.
- Covered entities: Entities subject to the bill would face new duties on account access and data sharing and could face enforcement and liability for violations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Joint service accounts for cohabiting adults
This bill would let two consenting adults who live together open a joint account with many service providers, including utilities, internet/phone, landlords, childcare providers, mortgage companies, TV providers, sanitary landfill operators, and creditors. Both adults would have to agree, and both names would be on the account. Any named adult could ask for bills, emails, service info, and online portal access. The company would have to explain what it will share and give any required privacy notices to each adult. For state‑licensed childcare providers, the joint account would be for the child’s custodial parents. If a company breaks these rules, a harmed adult could sue for up to $1,000 per failure. This would start 180 days after enactment.
No exit fees for victims in assisted housing
Applicants or tenants in assisted housing who leave a lease early due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking would not be charged an exit fee. This would apply even if the lease says otherwise. It would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Casten
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov