I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8252 
To amend the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Proce-
dures Act of 1974 to establish language access requirements for creditors 
and servicers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 6, 2024 
Ms. GARCIA of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to establish language 
access requirements for creditors and servicers, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Language 
Access in Mortgage Servicing Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Housing is the largest portion of most 
household budgets in the United States and there-
fore a foundational component of financial access 
and opportunity. 
(2) Due in part to a legacy of discrimination in 
the United States, people of color are disproportion-
ately experiencing homelessness, are disproportion-
ately 
renting, 
and 
disproportionately 
paying 
unaffordable rents, which acts as a barrier to home 
ownership. 
(3) Access to fair and affordable housing, both 
rental and home ownership opportunities, is critical 
to upward economic mobility. This includes address-
ing language barriers in mortgage servicing to en-
sure borrowers have culturally sensitive, in-language 
access to critical lending information, can enter into 
fair and sustainable home ownership, and preserve 
their home equity. 
SEC. 3. LANGUAGE ACCESS REQUIREMENTS AND RE-
SOURCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 2 of title I of the Truth 
in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1631 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 129H the following: 
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‘‘§ 129I. Language access requirements. 
‘‘(a) STANDARD LANGUAGE PREFERENCE FORM.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this section, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection shall, after consulting with the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, the Director of the Federal Housing 
Finance Agency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, by 
rule, establish a standard language preference form which 
includes a standard language preference question asked in 
each of the 8 languages most commonly spoken by individ-
uals with limited English proficiency, as determined by the 
Director of the Bureau using information published by the 
Director of the Bureau of the Census. 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION
AND TRANSLATION
OF VITAL 
DOCUMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DESIGNATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this sec-
tion, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection shall, after consulting with 
the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the 
Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Hous-
ing and Urban Development, by rule, establish 
a list of vital documents associated with the 
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origination and servicing of residential mort-
gage loans. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining 
which documents are vital documents pursuant 
to paragraph (1), the Director shall consider— 
‘‘(i) whether the document conveys in-
formation about credit terms and condi-
tions; 
‘‘(ii) whether the document conveys 
information relating to borrower rights and 
obligations under applicable laws; and 
‘‘(iii) whether the document conveys 
information relating to a change in bor-
rower rights, obligations, or entitlements 
under the terms of the loan or applicable 
laws. 
‘‘(2) TRANSLATION.—The Director of the Bu-
reau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Director 
of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Sec-
retary of the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 
the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall 
jointly— 
‘‘(A) not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, publish model 
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translations of each document designated as a 
vital document under this subsection in the 
eight languages most commonly spoken by indi-
viduals with limited English proficiency, as de-
termined by the Director of the Bureau of Con-
sumer Financial Protection using information 
published by the Director of the Bureau of the 
Census; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 3 years after the date 
of the enactment of this section, publish 
versions of such vital documents translated into 
at least 4 additional languages spoken by indi-
viduals with limited English proficiency that are 
regionally prevalent in the United States, as de-
termined by the Director of the Bureau of Con-
sumer Financial Protection using information 
published by the Director of the Bureau of the 
Census. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR CREDITORS.— 
‘‘(1) USE
OF
STANDARD
LANGUAGE
PREF-
ERENCE FORM BY CREDITORS.— 
‘‘(A) INCLUSION
IN
APPLICATION.—Each 
creditor shall include, in any written application 
used in connection with a residential mortgage 
loan, the standard language preference form es-
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tablished by the Director of the Bureau under 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(B) INCLUSION
OF
DISCLOSURE.—Each 
creditor may include with such standard lan-
guage preference form a disclosure stating that 
documents and services may not be available in 
the preferred language indicated by the con-
sumer on the standard language preference 
form. 
‘‘(C) DOCUMENTATION AND TRANSFER OF 
PREFERRED
LANGUAGE
INFORMATION.—If a 
creditor, or assignee of a creditor receives infor-
mation about a language preference of a con-
sumer through the standard language pref-
erence form, orally or in writing in connection 
with a residential mortgage loan, as determined 
by the Director of the Bureau, including from 
another creditor or a servicer, such creditor or 
assignee shall document this language pref-
erence in each file or electronic file of informa-
tion associated with such consumer and shall 
transfer such information and the standard lan-
guage preference form to any servicer of the 
loan and to any creditor that may own the loan 
in the future. 
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‘‘(2) PROVISION OF TRANSLATED VITAL DOCU-
MENTS.—If a Federal agency or a State or local 
agency in the State or locality in which the residen-
tial property subject to the residential mortgage loan 
is located has produced a model translation for a 
document designated as a vital document under sub-
section (b), in the preferred language of a consumer, 
as documented by a creditor pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(C), such creditor shall— 
‘‘(A) provide such translation in addition 
to any English version of such vital document 
that would have been provided to such con-
sumer who indicated such preferred language; 
and 
‘‘(B) include a notice on the English and 
translated versions indicating that the English 
version is the official and operative document 
and the translated version is for informational 
purposes only. 
‘‘(3) ORAL INTERPRETATION SERVICES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a creditor receives 
information about a language preference of a 
consumer through the standard language pref-
erence form, orally or in writing in connection 
with a residential mortgage loan, as determined 
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by the Director of the Bureau, including from 
another creditor or a servicer, such creditor 
shall provide oral interpretation services to such 
consumer. 
‘‘(B) ORAL INTERPRETATION SERVICES.— 
If a creditor is required under subparagraph 
(A) to provide oral interpretation services to a 
consumer, such creditor shall ensure qualified 
oral interpretation services, as defined by the 
Director of the Bureau, are made available in 
the preferred language of the consumer for all 
oral communications between the such creditor 
and the consumer and these oral interpretation 
services may be provided by qualified staff of 
the creditor or a qualified third party. 
‘‘(4) NOTICE OF AVAILABLE LANGUAGE SERV-
ICES.—If a creditor receives information about a 
language preference of a consumer through the 
standard language preference form, orally or in writ-
ing in connection with a residential mortgage loan, 
as determined by the Director of the Bureau, includ-
ing from another creditor or a servicer, such creditor 
shall not later than 10 business days after receiving 
such information, notify such consumer in writing, 
in the preferred language of the consumer, of any 
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language services available, including the services re-
quired under paragraphs (2) and (3). 
‘‘(5) TRANSFER
OF
LANGUAGE
PREFERENCE 
INFORMATION.—If a creditor transfers the servicing 
associated with a residential mortgage loan, such 
creditor shall notify the transferee servicer of any 
known language preference of the consumer associ-
ated with such residential mortgage loan. 
‘‘(6) INFORMATION ON WEBSITE.—Each cred-
itor shall on the website of the creditor publish— 
‘‘(A) links to and explanatory information 
about the websites maintained by the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development and the 
Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection that identify housing counselors ap-
proved by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development; and 
‘‘(B) a link to and explanatory information 
about the language resources website estab-
lished by the Director of the Bureau of Con-
sumer Financial Protection, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development, the Director 
of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs under section 3(e) of the Im-
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proving Language Access in Mortgage Servicing 
Act of 2024. 
‘‘(d) RULEMAKING.—The Director may issue such 
rules as the Director determines necessary to implement 
this section.’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICERS.—Section 6 of 
the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(n) LANGUAGE ACCESS REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) 
INCLUSION
IN
NOTICES.—Each 
servicer shall include the standard language 
preference form with— 
‘‘(i) any notice required under section 
1024.39(b) of title 12, Code of Federal 
Regulations; 
‘‘(ii) any notice required under section 
(c); 
‘‘(iii) any notice required under sec-
tion 1024.41(b)(2) of title 12, Code of 
Federal Regulations; 
‘‘(iv) any notice required under sec-
tion 1024.41(c)(2)(iii) of title 12, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
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‘‘(v) any other additional notice as the 
Director of the Bureau of Consumer Fi-
nancial Protection determines necessary. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSION
OF
DISCLOSURES.—A 
servicer may include with the standard lan-
guage preference form a disclosure stating that 
documents and services may not be available in 
the preferred language of the borrower indi-
cated by the consumer on the standard lan-
guage preference form. 
‘‘(C) DOCUMENTATION AND TRANSFER OF 
PREFERRED
LANGUAGE
INFORMATION.—If a 
servicer or an assignee of a servicer receives in-
formation about a language preference of a bor-
rower through the standard language preference 
form, orally or in writing in connection with a 
federally related mortgage, as determined by 
the Director of the Bureau, including from an-
other servicer or creditor, such servicer or as-
signee shall document this language preference 
in each file or electronic file of information as-
sociated with such borrower and shall transfer 
such information and the standard language 
preference form to any other servicer that may 
service the loan in the future. 
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‘‘(2) REQUIRED
LANGUAGE
SERVICES
FOR 
SERVICERS.— 
‘‘(A) PROVISION
OF
TRANSLATED
VITAL 
DOCUMENTS.—If a Federal agency or a State 
or local agency in the State or locality in which 
the property subject to the federally related 
mortgage loan is to be located has produced a 
model translation for a document designated as 
a vital document under section 129I(b) of the 
Truth in Lending Act in the preferred language 
of a borrower documented by the servicer pur-
suant to paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, 
the servicer shall— 
‘‘(i) provide such translation in addi-
tion to any English version of such docu-
ment that would have been provided to 
such borrower; and 
‘‘(ii) include a notice on the English 
and translated versions, in the preferred 
language of the borrower, indicating that 
the English version is the official and oper-
ative document and the translated version 
is for informational purposes only. 
‘‘(B) ORAL INTERPRETATION SERVICES.— 
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language preference of a borrower through the 
standard language preference form, orally or in writ-
ing in connection with a federally related mortgage, 
as determined by the Director of the Bureau, includ-
ing from another creditor or a servicer, such servicer 
shall, not later than 10 business days after receiving 
such information, notify such borrower in writing, in 
the preferred language of the borrower, of any lan-
guage services available, including the services re-
quired under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) TRANSFER
OF
LANGUAGE
PREFERENCE 
INFORMATION.—If a servicer transfers the servicing 
associated with a federally related mortgage loan, 
such servicer shall notify the transferee servicer of 
any known language preference of the borrower as-
sociated with such federally related mortgage loan. 
‘‘(5) STANDARD LANGUAGE PREFERENCE FORM 
DEFINED.—The term ‘standard language preference 
form’ means the standard language preference form 
established by the Director of the Bureau under sec-
tion 129I of the Truth in Lending Act. 
‘‘(6) 
INFORMATION
ON
WEBSITE.—Each 
servicer shall on the website of the servicer pub-
lish— 
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‘‘(A) links to and information about the 
websites maintained by the Secretary of Hous-
ing and Urban Development and the Director 
of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec-
tion that identify housing counselors approved 
by the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment; and 
‘‘(B) a link to and information about the 
language resources website established by the 
Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
Protection, the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development, the Director of the Fed-
eral Housing Finance Agency, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, and the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs under section 3(e) of the Improving Lan-
guage Access in Mortgage Servicing Act of 
2024. 
‘‘(7) RULEMAKING.—The Director of the Bu-
reau of Consumer Financial Protection may issue 
such rules as the Director determines necessary to 
implement this section.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
in chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1631 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 129H the following: 
‘‘129I. Language access requirements.’’. 
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this section, and each year thereafter, 
the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec-
tion, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit a report to the Congress that con-
tains— 
(1) regulatory recommendations to enhance 
mortgage origination and servicing processes for per-
sons with a preferred language that is not English; 
(2) a description of any legislative changes 
needed to provide authority necessary to implement 
the regulatory recommendations; and 
(3) a description of any progress on the imple-
mentation of any legislative or regulatory rec-
ommendation made in a previous report. 
(e) LANGUAGE RESOURCE WEBSITE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Bureau 
of Consumer Financial Protection, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development, the Director of 
the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Secretary 
of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall jointly not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this section establish and maintain 
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a website that provides language resources for credi-
tors, servicers, and consumers. 
(2) WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS.—The website de-
veloped pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) the translations of documents pub-
lished pursuant to section 129I(c) of the Truth 
in Lending Act; 
(B) a glossary of terms relating to residen-
tial mortgage loans and federally related mort-
gage loans, provided in each commonly spoken 
language; 
(C) guidance for creditors and servicers 
working with persons who have a preferred lan-
guage that is not English; and 
(D) examples of notices that may be used 
by creditors and servicers to inform persons of 
available language services, provided in accord-
ance with section 6(n)(2) of the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 and section 
129I of the Truth in Lending Act. 
(f) ADVISORY GROUP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Bureau 
of Consumer Financial Protection shall establish an 
advisory group consisting of stakeholders, including 
industry groups, consumer groups, civil rights 
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groups, and groups that have experience improving 
language access in housing finance transactions, to 
provide advice to the Director about— 
(A) issues that arise relating to mortgage 
origination and servicing processes for persons 
with a preferred language that is not English; 
(B) the development of the standard lan-
guage preference form by the Director under 
section 129I(a) of the Truth in Lending Act; 
and 
(C) updates to the language resource 
website established by the Director of the Bu-
reau of Consumer Financial Protection, the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
the Director of the Federal Housing Finance 
Agency, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs under subsection 
(e). 
(2) REQUIRED CONSULTING.—The Director of 
the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall 
consult with the advisory group established pursuant 
to paragraph (1) with respect to any issues that 
arise relating to mortgage origination and servicing 
processes for persons with a preferred language that 
is not English. 
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(g) HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY LANGUAGE RE-
SOURCES.— 
(1) ENHANCED SEARCH CAPABILITIES.— 
(A) HUD.—The Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development shall not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this section 
update the website maintained by the Secretary 
that identifies housing counselors approved by 
the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment, to allow for searching for housing 
counseling agencies based on the language serv-
ices they provide. 
(B) BUREAU.—The Director of the Bureau 
of Consumer Financial protection shall not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this section update the website maintained by 
the Director that identifies housing counselors 
approved by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, to allow for searching for 
housing counseling agencies based on the lan-
guage services they provide. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment, such sums as are necessary to support 
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