Merger Agreement Approvals Clarity and Predictability Act

House Bill

H.R. 6570

119th Congress

Merger Agreement Approvals Clarity and Predictability Act

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 0.

Introduced:Dec 17, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Scott Fitzgerald

R - WI

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Finance and Financial Sector

Summary

This bill requires the GAO to study how federal banking regulators use "commitments and conditions" when approving bank merger applications. The study must evaluate whether these conditions align with statutory requirements and whether they have been influenced by "extrastatutory issues" - concerns beyond what Congress authorized regulators to consider.

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 0.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires the GAO to study how federal banking regulators use "commitments and conditions" when approving bank merger applications. The study must evaluate whether these conditions align with statutory requirements and whether they have been influenced by "extrastatutory issues" - concerns beyond what Congress authorized regulators to consider.

Last updated: 12/26/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires GAO study of conditions placed on bank merger approvals
Examines whether conditions align with statutory requirements
Reviews whether "extrastatutory issues" have influenced merger approvals
Covers Fed, OCC, FDIC, and NCUA merger review processes
Report due to Congress within 6 months
Passed committee 52-0 with unanimous bipartisan support

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation affects banks seeking to merge, banking regulators, and the merger review process broadly. It responds to concerns that regulators have imposed conditions on mergers (such as community investment commitments or branch requirements) beyond their statutory authority. Banks pursuing acquisitions would benefit from clearer, more predictable approval processes. Community groups that benefit from merger-related commitments might see reduced leverage if the study finds overreach.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Finance and Financial Sector

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

6570, 119th Congress (2025). "Merger Agreement Approvals Clarity and Predictability Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-6570