H.R. 2135 – Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:54 AM UTC

The Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to stop debt collectors from trying to collect debts that are time‑barred, meaning the legal deadline to sue for the debt has passed. It applies to all debt collectors and consumers whose debts are beyond the statute of limitations.

Key Provisions

Adds a new Section 811A that makes it illegal for a debt collector to collect or attempt to collect any debt for which the statute of limitations has expired.
Updates the table of contents of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to include the new Section 811A.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

March 23, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 23, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

March 23, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 23, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2135

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 23, 2021

Mr. Cohen (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

A BILL

To amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to prohibit debt collectors from collecting, or attempting to collect, on a debt of a consumer with respect to which the statute of limitations has expired, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act.

2.

Prohibition on collecting time-barred debt

(a)

In general

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 811 the following:

811A.

Prohibition on collecting time-barred debt

A debt collector may not collect, or attempt to collect, any debt of a consumer with respect to which the statute of limitations has expired.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 811 the following:

811A. Prohibition on collecting time-barred debt.

.