Digital Library: New Consumer Law Changes Taking Effect in 2026

January 5, 2026 — Article

This article lists federal and state consumer law changes scheduled to go into effect or expire during the period from December 1, 2025, through January 1, 2027. Other consumer law changes will be enacted in 2026 and will go into effect in 2026; this article lists changes whose effective dates have already been scheduled as of December 31, 2025.

Of special importance are extensive changes to student loan rights, important bankruptcy amendments affecting mortgages, a new regulation change affecting PACE, sunset of exemption from taxability for forgiven mortgage and student loan debt, the California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act, and two new state coerced debt laws.