Main Street Capital Access Act

Bill Number: H.R. 6955
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Finance and Financial Sector
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-07-22: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-07-29T15:41:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The Main Street Capital Access Act (H.R. 6955) aims to improve Federal banking laws by easing barriers to new bank formation, tailoring regulations to the size and risk of institutions, enhancing transparency and fairness in bank supervision and resolutions, promoting competition in mergers, strengthening local deposit funding, and facilitating innovation through bank partnerships.

Key Provisions

Title I (New Bank Formation and Local Community Access): Shortens timelines for new bank charter approvals and studies; requires annual public reports on application numbers, approval times, and denial reasons from the OCC, NCUA, Federal Reserve, and FDIC; increases CDFI Fund transparency through annual testimony; and extends and adjusts the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program.
Title II (Tailoring Bank Regulation): Directs agencies to tailor rules based on institutions' risk profiles and business models; raises the small bank holding company threshold to $6 billion; indexes various regulatory thresholds to GDP or CPI every five years; and mandates periodic reviews of community bank thresholds.
Title III (Fair and Transparent Bank Supervision): Reforms the CAMELS rating system for more objective, reviewable criteria; sets timelines for examinations and reports (e.g., 270 days for exams, 90 days for final reports); creates an Office of Independent Examination Review with appeal rights for material supervisory determinations; limits reputational risk considerations in supervision; and provides election of forum for certain enforcement hearings.
Title IV (Regulatory Accountability and Transparency): Adjusts FDIC Board composition to include community bank experience; requires guidance clarity statements noting that guidance lacks force of law; and shortens the regulatory review cycle under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act to every eight years with expanded internal reviews.
Title V (Strengthening Local Bank Funding): Requires a review and remediation plan for the Federal Reserve discount window; increases the reciprocal deposits limit to $250 billion and expands eligibility for agent institutions.
Title VI (Promoting Bank Competition and Merger Clarity): Exempts certain small mergers (under $10 billion assets, not creating local monopolies) from full antitrust review; mandates studies on merger commitments and review processes; and sets strict timelines (120 days) for merger application decisions with deemed approval if unmet.
Title VII (Strengthening Transparency and Involvement in Bank Resolutions): Allows limited exceptions to the least-cost resolution rule for non-G-SIB acquirers to limit concentration; requires studies on shelf charters and bidder qualification; and restricts concentration limit waivers in failing bank acquisitions to cases preventing economic disruption, with congressional reporting.
Title VIII (Facilitating Innovation and Bank Partnerships): Extends merchant banking investment holding periods to at least 15 years; requires studies on bank-fintech and credit union-fintech partnerships; and reduces the Federal Reserve surplus fund by $425 million.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, Home Owners' Loan Act, Federal Reserve Act, and others to raise asset thresholds (e.g., small bank holding companies to $6 billion), index them periodically, and streamline processes.
Modifies CAMELS ratings, examination timelines, and supervisory appeals under the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act.
Alters least-cost resolution and concentration limits in section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and related merger provisions.
Introduces new reporting, review, and independent oversight mechanisms not previously codified.

Potential Impacts

Government agencies: Increases reporting, study, and oversight duties for the Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, NCUA, and CFPB; creates new review boards and mandates; requires coordination on thresholds and exams.
Citizens and communities: May improve access to banking services in underserved areas via new bank formation, CDFI support, and reduced burdens on community banks; could affect deposit insurance and financial stability indirectly.
International relations: Minimal direct effects, though changes to U.S. banking stability and competition could influence cross-border financial flows.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Community banks, small depository institutions, and their holding companies.
Federal banking regulators (Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, NCUA, CFPB).
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and underserved communities.
Fintech firms seeking bank partnerships.
Congress (through enhanced oversight and reporting requirements).
Consumers and businesses relying on local banking services.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Expands agency rulemaking with new tailoring, indexing, and review requirements, raising questions about administrative authority and judicial review standards (e.g., de novo review in exam appeals).
Introduces deemed-approval mechanisms and election of judicial forums for enforcement, potentially affecting due process and separation of powers.
Focuses on reducing regulatory burdens for smaller institutions while adding transparency mandates, with political implications for debates on deregulation versus consumer protection.
No direct constitutional challenges identified in the text; changes primarily amend existing statutes without altering core structures like deposit insurance.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]

Cosponsors (33)

Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]

Recent Actions

2026-07-22: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
2026-07-21: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-07-21: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 270 - 155, 1 Present (Roll no. 271). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4708-4722) (Roll call 271)
2026-07-21: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 270 - 155, 1 Present (Roll no. 271). (Roll call 271)
2026-07-21: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 210 - 216 (Roll no. 270). (Roll call 270)
2026-07-21: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5018-5019)
2026-07-21: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 6955, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Garcia (TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2026-07-21: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
2026-07-21: Ms. Garcia (TX) moved to recommit to the Committee on Financial Services. (text: CR H4731)
2026-07-21: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2026-07-21: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6955.
2026-07-21: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8800, H.R. 8884, H. Con. Res. 113, H.R. 7008, H.R. 6955 and H.R. 9770. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8800 under a structured rule and for consideration of H.R. 8884, H. Con. Res. 113, H.R. 7008, H.R. 6955, and H.R. 9770 under a closed rule, with one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 8800, H.R. 8884, H.R. 7008, H.R. 6955, and H.R. 9770.
2026-07-21: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1438. (consideration: CR H4707-4731)
2026-07-20: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1438 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8800, H.R. 8884, H. Con. Res. 113, H.R. 7008, H.R. 6955 and H.R. 9770. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8800 under a structured rule and for consideration of H.R. 8884, H. Con. Res. 113, H.R. 7008, H.R. 6955, and H.R. 9770 under a closed rule, with one hour of debate on each measure and one motion to recommit on H.R. 8800, H.R. 8884, H.R. 7008, H.R. 6955, and H.R. 9770.
2026-04-20: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 535.

Bill Versions

Main Street Capital Access Act — issued 2026-07-21 — PDF (150 pages)
Main Street Capital Access Act — issued 2026-01-07 — PDF (153 pages)
Main Street Capital Access Act — issued 2026-07-22 — PDF (149 pages)
Main Street Capital Access Act — issued 2026-04-20 — PDF (182 pages)