H.R. 4447 – 21st Century FTC Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 5:23 AM UTC

The 21st Century FTC Act amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to give the FTC formal notice‑and‑comment rulemaking authority when addressing unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and to allow the agency to impose civil penalties for violations. It updates procedural language in the FTC’s rulemaking sections and clarifies the basis for civil penalties. The changes affect businesses that engage in consumer‑facing practices and the FTC’s enforcement of consumer protection.

Key Provisions

Grants the FTC authority to issue rules on unfair or deceptive acts or practices using the standard notice‑and‑comment process.
Allows the FTC to seek civil penalties against parties that violate the Act’s provisions on unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
Revises and streamlines procedural language in the FTC Act’s rulemaking and penalty sections to support the new authorities.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

July 19, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 16, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 16, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

July 19, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 16, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4447

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 16, 2021

Ms. Castor of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide the Commission with notice and comment rulemaking authority respecting unfair or deceptive acts or practices and to provide for civil penalties for violations of such Act respecting unfair or deceptive acts or practices, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the 21st Century FTC Act.

2.

Rulemaking respecting unfair or deceptive acts or practices

The Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 18—

(A)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);

(ii)

in paragraph (1), by striking , and shall also and all that follows and inserting a period; and

(iii)

by striking (1) When prescribing and inserting When prescribing;

(B)

by striking subsection (c);

(C)

in subsection (d)—

(i)

in paragraph (1)—

(I)

by striking (A) a statement and all that follows through (B) a statement and inserting a statement; and

(II)

by striking ; and (C) a statement and all that follows and inserting a period; and

(ii)

in paragraph (2)(A), by striking subsections (b) and (c) and inserting subsection (b); and

(D)

in subsection (e)—

(i)

in paragraph (1)(B), by striking the transcript required by subsection (c)(5),;

(ii)

in paragraph (3), by striking , or if and all that follows and inserting the following: , or if the court finds that the Commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence in the rulemaking record (as defined in paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection) taken as a whole. The term evidence, as used in this paragraph, means any matter in the rulemaking record.;

(iii)

in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the first and third sentences;

(iv)

by striking paragraph (2); and

(v)

by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and

(2)

in section 22—

(A)

in subsection (a)(1), by striking or section 18; and

(B)

in subsection (c)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), by striking , except and all that follows and inserting a period; and

(ii)

in paragraph (2), by striking Except as specified in paragraph (1), no and inserting No.

3.

Civil penalties for violations of Federal Trade Commission Act respecting unfair or deceptive acts or practices

Section 5(m)(1)(A) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(m)(1)(A)) is amended—

(1)

by inserting this Act or after violates; and

(2)

by inserting a violation of this Act or is before prohibited.