Worldwide: Consumer Protection

Federal banking regulators have issued new guidance addressing credit risks when lending to individuals not legally authorized to work in the United States, following a presidential executive order directing agencies to examine financial services extended to undocumented immigrants. The guidance emphasizes existing safety-and-soundness obligations while raising questions about how institutions should balance risk management with fair lending principles and access to mainstream credit.

As CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought prepares to testify before Congress, industry experts weigh in on the anticipated direction of the agency under new leadership. Senior Counsel Alan S. Kaplinsky, a veteran of consumer financial services law, provides his analysis on what stakeholders can expect from the hearing and its implications for enforcement priorities.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has proposed regulations that would prohibit licensed medical care providers and debt collectors from reporting medical debt to consumer credit agencies. The proposal aims to protect patients from long-term financial harm following unexpected medical emergencies, with non-compliant providers potentially losing their licenses. This move follows similar actions in at least 17 other states, though some state laws face legal challenges based on federal preemption arguments.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda covering the period from January 2026 through November 2026. Published through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs...

House and Senate committees are preparing to hold hearings on the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's semi-annual report, marking a significant moment as Trump Administration CFPB officials testify before Congress for the first time. Acting Director Russell Vought will appear as the sole witness before both committees, while the Senate considers the nomination of Brian Johnson as the next permanent CFPB director.

On June 18, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC; together with the SEC, the Commissions) issued a joint request for comment...

The FTC has reached a $35 million settlement with Hopper over allegations that the travel app company charged consumers hidden fees without consent and misrepresented the benefits of its VIP Support and Price Freeze services. The case marks one of the first enforcement actions under the FTC's Unfair and Deceptive Fees Rule, commonly known as the "Junk Fee Rule," which took effect in May 2025.

This comprehensive consumer protection update examines recent federal and state enforcement actions targeting companies for alleged violations ranging from Fair Credit Reporting Act breaches to deceptive "Made in USA" claims. The newsletter also covers emerging regulatory developments, including the FTC's proposed policy statement on AI accuracy and state-level initiatives addressing artificial intelligence governance and consumer protection.

New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has proposed a sweeping rule that would prohibit hidden junk fees and mandate all-in pricing for virtually every consumer good and service advertised in the city. The regulation would represent one of the broadest municipal price-transparency requirements in the country, extending far beyond industry-specific initiatives to create a generally applicable standard with significant recordkeeping obligations and civil penalties. Financial services com

As CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought prepares to testify before Congress, industry experts weigh in on the anticipated direction of the agency under new leadership. Senior Counsel Alan S. Kaplinsky, a veteran of consumer financial services law, provides his analysis on what stakeholders can expect from the hearing and its implications for enforcement priorities.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that text messages do not constitute "calls" under Section 227(c)(5) of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)...

The CFPB’s 2026 Regulatory Agenda, released July 6, confirms that the Bureau intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reconsidering the remaining provisions of its 2017 Payday...