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

Expand all

I New Bank Formation and Local Community Access

II Tailoring Bank Regulation

III Fair and Transparent Bank Supervision

IV Regulatory Accountability and Transparency

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

Sec. 801. Merchant Banking Modernization Changed · Jul 21

Where this section came from

  1. Jan 7, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Financial Services, Jan 7
  2. 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
What changed in the text

(a) In general. Section 4(k)(7)(A) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)(7)(A)) is amended by inserting Under such regulations, the period of time generally permitted for holding merchant banking investments shall not be less than 15 years. For any merchant banking investment held on the date of enactment of the Merchant Main Banking Street Modernization Act, the holding period of time permitted shall not be less than 15 years from the initial date of the investment. after the period at the end. (b) Merchant banking study. (1) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall carry out a study on merchant banking investments to assess— (A) the number, investment size, holding period, and risk characteristics of merchant banking investments by financial holding companies, with the assessment of investment sizes and holding periods based on the average, median, and distribution of the investment sizes and holding periods; (B) the types of businesses, projects, assets, and activities in which such merchant banking investments are made, including the extent to which such merchant banking investments support infrastructure projects and housing development and construction; and (C) any information, analyses, or findings related to merchant banking investments that the Board determines to be relevant. (2) Report. Not later than the end of the 18-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall issue a report to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under this subsection.

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. Section 4(k)(7)(A) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)(7)(A)) is amended by inserting Under such regulations, the period of time generally permitted for holding merchant banking investments shall not be less than 15 years. For any merchant banking investment held on the date of enactment of the Main Street Act, the holding period of time permitted shall not be less than 15 years from the initial date of the investment. after the period at the end.

(b) Merchant banking study

(1) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall carry out a study on merchant banking investments to assess—

(A) the number, investment size, holding period, and risk characteristics of merchant banking investments by financial holding companies, with the assessment of investment sizes and holding periods based on the average, median, and distribution of the investment sizes and holding periods;

(B) the types of businesses, projects, assets, and activities in which such merchant banking investments are made, including the extent to which such merchant banking investments support infrastructure projects and housing development and construction; and

(C) any information, analyses, or findings related to merchant banking investments that the Board determines to be relevant.

(2) Report. Not later than the end of the 18-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall issue a report to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under this subsection.