Consumer Online Payment Transparency and Integrity Act
Sponsored By: Representative Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced
Summary
Protects consumers from surprise subscription charges by requiring clear renewal notices and fresh, informed consent before automatic renewals. It would also ban dark-pattern consent and require easy cancellation methods for subscriptions and free trials.
Show full summary
- Consumers and households: Would require sellers to notify consumers at least 7 days before the first and each subsequent automatic renewal and before charging after a free trial, and to obtain express informed consent to renew at least annually.
- Infrequent users: If a consumer has not used a service for 6 consecutive months, sellers would need to get express consent before charging again and must notify the consumer of their right to cancel and receive a prorated refund.
- Businesses and sellers: Would demand simple cancellation options such as an online cancel button or a toll-free number, and would void any automatic renewal that violates the rules and require refunds for amounts paid because of the violation.
- Federal enforcement: Would authorize the Federal Trade Commission to treat violations as unfair or deceptive acts, enforce the rules, and issue implementing rules under 5 U.S.C. § 553. The rules would take effect 1 year after enactment.
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.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Real consent and refunds for renewals
Sellers would have to get your express, informed OK every year before charging to renew. If they know you have not used the service for 6 straight months, they would need your OK again and must tell you that you can cancel and get a prorated refund. If a seller breaks these rules, the renewal would be void, the contract would end, and you would get back all money paid because of the violation. Consent gained through dark-pattern tricks would not count. These protections would start one year after enactment.
FTC rules and enforcement for renewals
The FTC would write rules to carry out these protections using the normal federal process. Breaking the Act or its rules would be treated like an unfair or deceptive practice under the FTC Act. The FTC would be able to use its full enforcement tools and remedies. These parts would start one year after enactment.
Clear notices and easy canceling for auto-renewals
This bill would require clear disclosures when a plan auto-renews or a free trial turns into a paid plan. Sellers would have to notify you at least 7 days before each renewal, and at least 7 days before a free trial ends, in the same way you signed up. They would need to explain how to cancel and offer easy ways to do it online, by toll-free phone, email, or mail. These rules would start one year after enactment.
Which contracts this bill would cover
The bill would define key terms like consumer, dark patterns, service contract, and simply cancel. Service contracts would be exempt, and the FTC could exempt other contracts or sellers. That means some agreements would not get these new protections. The definitions and exemptions would start one year after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov