H.R. 6955
Main Street Capital Access Act
Sponsor: J. French Hill · 33 cosponsors
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Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Main Street Capital Access Act or the Main Street Act
This bill lessens and otherwise modifies banking regulations, including those regarding institution formation, supervision by federal financial regulators, and bank merger requirements.
Under the bill, new banks have a three-year phase-in period to meet certain capital requirements. The bill also reduces the leverage ratio for certain rural community banks.
Financial regulators must (1) tailor regulatory actions to limit burdens on financial institutions and must consider the institutions' risk profiles and business models, and (2) review their regulations more frequently and expand the scope of these reviews.
The bill eases requirements regarding bank mergers, for example, by allowing financial regulators to approve certain bank mergers without considering if the merger is noncompetitive or monopolistic.
The bill increases the dollar asset thresholds for various fees, reporting requirements, and other regulatory requirements so that more financial companies and banks are exempt from these requirements. For example, the bill increases the total asset threshold above which financial holding companies need Federal Reserve Board approval to acquire a company, thereby allowing for more acquisitions without board approval. The bill also raises certain asset thresholds so as to allow additional small bank holding companies to operate with higher debt levels and additional small banks to qualify for a longer examination cycle.
The bill also provides flexibilities regarding the use of reciprocal deposits, the resolution of failed banks, and other regulated activities.
Text of the bill
I New Bank Formation and Local Community Access
II Tailoring Bank Regulation
III Fair and Transparent Bank Supervision
IV Regulatory Accountability and Transparency
Where this section came from
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Jan 7, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Financial Services, Jan 7
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Jul 21, 2026 · Engrossed in House H.Amdt. 241: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1438, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 119-35 is considered as adopted. Official page › H.Res. 1438: On Ordering the Previous Question — Passed, 213–209 · Roll Call 253 H.Res. 1438: On Agreeing to the Resolution — Passed, 214–211 · Roll Call 254 On Motion to Recommit — Failed, 210–216 · Roll Call 270On Passage — Passed, 270–155 · Roll Call 271
(a) In general.
The
Each
head of each
financial agency shall include a guidance clarity statement as described in subsection (b) on any guidance issued by that financial agency on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
… 19 unchanged passages …
What does "considered adopted" mean?
When a chamber approves a rule that says a change is "considered adopted", the change becomes part of the bill as soon as the rule passes, without a separate vote on the change itself.
(a) In general. Each financial agency shall include a guidance clarity statement as described in subsection (b) on any guidance issued by that financial agency on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Guidance clarity statement. A guidance clarity statement required under subsection (a) shall be displayed prominently on the first page of the document and shall include the following: This guidance does not have the force and effect of law and therefore does not establish any rights or obligations for any person and is not binding on the agency or the public. If this guidance suggests how regulated entities may comply with applicable statutes or regulations, noncompliance with this guidance does not conclusively establish a violation of applicable law..
(c) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Financial agency. The term financial agency means the following:
(A) The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
(B) The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(C) The Department of the Treasury.
(D) The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
(E) The Federal Housing Finance Agency.
(F) The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
(G) The National Credit Union Administration.
(H) The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
(I) The Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Guidance. The term guidance means a financial agency statement of general applicability, intended to have a future effect on the behavior of regulated parties, that sets forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue, or an interpretation of a statute or regulation, but does not include—
(A) a rule promulgated pursuant to notice and comment under section 553 of title 5, United States Code;
(B) a rule exempt from rulemaking requirements under section 553(a) of title 5, United States Code;
(C) a rule of financial agency organization, procedure, or practice under section 553(b)(A) of title 5, United States Code;
(D) a decision of a financial agency adjudication under section 554 of title 5, United States Code, or any similar statutory provision;
(E) internal guidance directed to the issuing financial agency or other agency that is not intended to have a substantial future effect on the behavior of regulated parties; or
(F) internal executive branch legal advice or legal opinions addressed to executive branch officials.
V Strengthening Local Bank Funding
VI Promoting Bank Competition and Merger Clarity
VII Strengthening Transparency and Involvement in Bank Resolutions
VIII Facilitating Innovation and Bank Partnerships