Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2026

This legislation amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to allow the furnishing of certain consumer payment data to credit reporting agencies, specifically for lease agreements , including those subsidized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for utility or telecommunication services . This aims to broaden the scope of information available for credit assessments, potentially benefiting consumers with limited traditional credit histories. The bill defines specific types of utility and telecommunication firms that can report this information. To protect consumers, the bill includes an explicit opt-out provision , allowing individuals to prevent this information from being reported by submitting a written request. Furthermore, energy utility firms are prohibited from reporting an outstanding balance as late if the consumer has entered into and is meeting the obligations of a payment plan . The legislation also mandates a Government Accountability Office study within two years to assess the impact of this new reporting on consumers and its effect on credit scores.