H.R. 5402 — Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2025

This section amends Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) (15 U.S.C. 1681s-2) to permit persons or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to furnish consumer payment information relating to lease agreements—including HUD-subsidized leases—and utility or telecommunications services to consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), subject to limitations. (1) Utility/telecommunications information is restricted to payment performance, deposits, discounts, and service interruption/termination conditions; (2) energy utility firms may not report outstanding balances as late if the consumer is complying with a payment plan; and (3) consumers may opt out via written request to the furnisher. (Thus, this "full-file" reporting enables rent and utility payments to contribute to credit histories, potentially aiding consumers with thin credit files.) The section also shields furnishers from liability under FCRA subsection (c) for compliance with the new provisions and directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress within two years on the impact of such reporting on consumers and credit scores.