119-HJRES-171 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

This resolution would reverse the CFPB’s 2025 decision to withdraw its 2022 guidance on “returned deposited item” fees—charges some banks impose when a check you deposit bounces—using the fast‑track Congressional Review Act process. (govinfo.gov)

What It Does

In plain English: the bill tells Congress to nullify the CFPB’s May 12, 2025 rule that withdrew earlier guidance (from 2022) cautioning banks that blanket fees on customers when deposited checks are returned may be an “unfair” practice. If Congress passes this resolution and it becomes law, the withdrawal would have no effect—functionally restoring the guidance—and the agency would be barred from issuing a substantially similar rule in the future without new authorization. (govinfo.gov)

Why it matters: for consumers, restoring the 2022 guidance would reinforce protections against surprise “returned deposited item” fees; for banks and credit unions, it could revive supervisory scrutiny and related compliance duties they argued the withdrawal had eased. (consumerfinance.gov)

Who’s For It

• Consumer advocates who opposed the 2025 mass withdrawal of guidance and argue that surprise fees harm consumers (example analysis from NCLC). (library.nclc.org)
• Supporters of the CFPB’s 2022 guidance who say “returned deposited item” fees can be unfair because people can’t predict when a deposited check will bounce. (consumerfinance.gov)
• The resolution’s sponsor introduced it on April 30, 2026 and sent it to the House Financial Services Committee (procedural detail from the bill text provided).

Who’s Against It

• Banking and credit‑union trade groups that welcomed the CFPB’s 2025 withdrawal as reducing compliance burdens and limiting reliance on non‑binding guidance. (americascreditunions.org)
• Community‑bank representatives who previously criticized the 2022 bulletin as de‑facto rulemaking and argued such fees can cover processing costs. (icba.org)

What’s Next

Status: introduced in the House on April 30, 2026 and referred to the House Financial Services Committee. Next, it would need to pass the House and the Senate with identical text and be signed by the President (or enacted over a veto) to take effect under the Congressional Review Act. (congress.gov)