Credit law tracker

Jurisdiction

Maryland

Citation:

Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-208.4

Effective:

Oct 1, 2026

Starting October 1, 2026, Maryland landlords who own 6 or more rental units must offer tenants the option to have on-time rent payments reported to at least one consumer reporting agency. For leases signed before that date, the offer must be made by January 1, 2027, and every year after. Reporting is optional, the landlord may charge a fee of no more than its actual cost or $10 a month, whichever is less, and you can stop reporting at any time.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Federal

Citation:

FHA INFO 2026-21

Effective:

Jan 1, 2027

FHA announced that starting January 1, 2027, lenders may use VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T, alongside Classic FICO, to underwrite FHA-insured mortgages. Until FHA publishes updated handbook policy, lenders keep following current FHA rules.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Virginia

Citation:

Va. Acts 2026, ch. 395

Effective:

Jul 1, 2027

Starting July 1, 2027, a creditor suing on a consumer debt in Virginia must include specific statements and a consumer notice in the warrant before a court can enter a default judgment. The state court system will create a standard notice form.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Vermont

Citation:

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, 2495a to 2495d; 2480d (amended)

Effective:

Jul 1, 2028

Vermont will bar creditors and collectors from pursuing coerced debt once a victim provides supporting documentation, require creditors to investigate, and give victims civil remedies. It also adds duties for credit reporting agencies handling coerced debt disputes. The main coerced debt sections take effect July 1, 2028.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Arizona

Citation:

Ariz. Rev. Stat. 8-530.10; 44-1698.02

Effective:

Sep 12, 2026

Within 30 days after a child is found to be a dependent child and placed in the care of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, the department must place a security freeze on the child's credit record. The freeze stays until the child turns 16, when the child can keep it or have it removed, and the department must tell the parent or guardian about the freeze and how to remove it.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Federal

Citation:

Fannie Mae LL-2026-06

Effective:

Sep 9, 2026

Since September 9, 2026, every Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved lender can use VantageScore 4.0 without first getting written approval. Classic FICO also remains approved, and FHFA says no retirement date for it has been set. FICO 10T is not yet eligible for delivery, and the tri-merge credit report requirement has not changed.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

District of Columbia

Citation:

D.C. Law 26-172; D.C. Code 28-3814

Effective:

Aug 20, 2026

This law bars health care providers and debt collectors from reporting the amount or existence of a patient's medical debt to a consumer reporting agency, and adds limits on medical debt collection. The law became effective August 20, 2026, but its requirements apply only after its cost is funded in an approved budget, and the official D.C. Code notes say the credit reporting change has not been implemented yet.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Virginia

Citation:

Va. Code 59.1-611 to 59.1-613

Effective:

Jul 1, 2026

Large Virginia health care facilities and medical debt buyers may not charge interest or late fees on medical debt until 90 days after the due date on the final invoice, and any interest or late fees may not exceed 3 percent of the debt per year. Medical creditors and collectors may not use extraordinary collection actions such as causing an arrest, foreclosing on real property, placing a lien on personal property, or garnishing the wages of someone who qualifies for financial assistance.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

New York

Citation:

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law art. 29-HHH, 604-aa to 604-dd

Effective:

Jun 17, 2026

New York lets you challenge a consumer debt that someone forced you into through coercion, intimidation, threats or force in settings such as intimate relationships, family, human trafficking, and child or elder abuse. After you give a creditor adequate documentation, such as a police report or court order, it must stop collecting within 10 business days and finish a review within 30 business days. The law applies to debts incurred on or after June 17, 2026.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026

Jurisdiction

Federal

Citation:

Pub. L. 119-36; 15 U.S.C. 1681b(c)(4)

Effective:

Mar 4, 2026

When you apply for a mortgage, a credit bureau may no longer sell your information as a prescreened lead to other lenders unless you authorized it, or the company already originates or services your current mortgage, or is a bank or credit union that holds a current account of yours. Any such offer must be a firm offer of credit or insurance. The law took effect 180 days after it was signed.

Source checked Sep 29, 2026