Empowering States' Rights To Protect Consumers Act of 2026

# Empowering States' Rights To Protect Consumers Act of 2026 Summary This bill would allow individual states to set and enforce their own consumer protection standards, rather than having a single federal standard apply nationwide. The legislation appears designed to give states greater authority to create consumer safeguards tailored to their residents' needs, though the specific details of what protections it would establish are not yet available in public summaries. The bill would primarily affect consumers, businesses operating across multiple states, and state regulatory agencies. Companies doing business in multiple states could face different rules in each jurisdiction, while states would gain more power to regulate consumer-related activities within their borders.

The exact scope of consumer issues covered—whether it addresses data privacy, product safety, financial services, or other areas—is not specified in the available information. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee as of the 119th Congress, meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on by the full Senate. It was sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).