Title 12, Banks and BankingRelease 119-110
§4809 “plain Language” Requirement for Federal Banking Agency Rules
Title 12 › CHAPTER 48 — FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT › § 4809
Summary
Federal banking agencies must write all proposed and final rules in plain, simple language when they publish them in the Federal Register after January 1, 2000. By March 1, 2001, each agency must send Congress a report saying how it followed this rule; "Federal banking agency" is defined in section 1813.
Full Legal Text
Title 12, §4809
Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
Each Federal banking agency shall use plain language in all proposed and final rulemakings published by the agency in the Federal Register after January 1, 2000.
(b)Report
Not later than March 1, 2001, each Federal banking agency shall submit to the Congress a report that describes how the agency has complied with subsection (a).
(c)Definition
For purposes of this section, the term “Federal banking agency” has the meaning given that term in section 1813 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was enacted as part of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and not as part of title III of Pub. L. 103–322 which comprises this chapter.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 4809
Title 12, Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110