Bill > HR10021

This bill, the Financial Empowerment and Protection Act, requires covered companies (such as utilities, internet providers, and mortgage lenders) to allow consenting cohabitating adults to open joint accounts for managing services and bills. The bill specifies requirements for these joint accounts, including that each cohabitating adult must agree to open the account, that the account will be in both of their names, and that the companies must provide information and access to the account upon request. The bill also allows cohabitating adults harmed by a company's failure to meet these requirements to bring a civil action for up to $1,000 per failure. The requirements apply to covered companies 180 days after the bill's enactment.