H.R. 4096

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require covered companies to allow consenting cohabitating adults to open joint accounts, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · June 24, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Casten

Table of contents

• H.R. 4096
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Covered company joint accounts of consenting cohabitating adults
  • SEC. 3. Prohibition on the imposition of fees for early lease termination

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Financial Empowerment and Protection Act.

SEC. 2. Covered company joint accounts of consenting cohabitating adults

• (a) Requirements for covered company joint accounts of consenting cohabitating adults
  • (1) Joint accounts
    • (A) In general
      • Each covered company shall allow consenting cohabitating adults who are or will be customers of the covered company to open a joint account with the covered company for purposes of managing—
        • (i) the services provided by the covered company; and
        • (ii) bills for such services.
    • (B) Agreement required
      • A joint account may not be opened pursuant to this paragraph unless each of the consenting cohabitating adults agree to open the joint account.
  • (2) Names
    • Each joint account opened pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be in the name of each of the consenting cohabitating adults who opened the joint account.
  • (3) Requests for information
    • With respect to a joint account opened pursuant to paragraph (1), each covered company shall, upon request by any of the consenting cohabitating adults that opened the joint account, provide to such consenting cohabitating adults—
      • information related to the joint account, including—
        • (i) bills;
        • (ii) copies of paper and electronic mail; and
        • (iii) any information about products or services provided; and
      • access to any online portal for the joint account.
  • (4) Notification required
    • Each covered company shall provide a notice to each cohabitating adult that opens a joint account with the covered company that explains what information will be shared by the covered company with each of the consenting cohabitating adults.
  • (5) Regulation P
    • If a covered company is required by Regulation P (part 1016 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations) to provide certain privacy notices such covered company shall provide such privacy notices to each of the consenting cohabitating adults who opened the joint account.
  • (6) Civil actions
    • Any cohabitating adult who is harmed by a failure of a covered company to meet a requirement of this subsection may bring a civil action in a Federal or State court against such a covered company for an award of not more than $1,000 for each such failure.
• (b) Effective date
  • The requirements of this section shall apply to covered companies beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section.
• (c) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term includes— covered company
    • The term creditor has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act.
    • The term open-end credit plan has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act.
    • The term has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act. closed-end credit plan
    • The term residential mortgage loan has the meaning given the term in section 103(d)(d) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1602(d)(d)).
    • The term servicer has the meaning given the term in section 6(i)(2) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (). 12 U.S.C. 2605(i)(2)
    • The term telephone service means any of the following:
    • The term water utility means the owner or operator of—

SEC. 3. Prohibition on the imposition of fees for early lease termination

• Section 41411 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 () is amended by adding at the end the following: 34 U.S.C. 12491
  • (h) Prohibition on the imposition of fees for early lease termination
    • (1) Voluntary exit
      • An applicant for or tenant of housing assisted under a covered housing program may voluntarily exit a lease for housing earlier than the end date of such lease on the basis that the applicant or tenant has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
    • (2) Fee prohibition
      • Notwithstanding any lease agreement, an applicant or tenant described in paragraph (1) may not be charged a fee for exiting a lease for housing earlier than the end date of such lease on the basis described in paragraph (1).