On January 28, the CFPB expressed support for legislative efforts in Massachusetts, Washington State, Oregon and South Dakota which prohibit furnishing medical debt information to a consumer credit reporting agency and prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt information on consumer reports, generally. The CFPB specifically commended Massachusetts’ HD 3503 and SD 1878, South Dakota’s HB 1058, Oregon’s SB 605, and Washington States’ SB 5480 and HB 1632 which would all bar medical bills on credit reports, among other things.

The CFPB made its position known in letters sent to the sponsors of these bills. The Bureau praised state legislatures as leaders in consumer protection, stating it “welcomes and encourages” the enactment of laws that either extend beyond or bolster federal protections. The CFPB noted the primary federal laws governing debt collection and credit reporting of medical debt provide only “narrow” preemption, allowing states to go beyond federal protections.