usc 12 § 5496b
GAO study of financial regulations (BANKS AND BANKING (12 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
Not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of financial services regulations, including activities of the Bureau. Such study shall include an analysis of— the impact of regulation on the financial marketplace, including the effects on the safety and soundness of regulated entities, cost and availability of credit, savings realized by consumers, reductions in consumer paperwork burden, changes in personal and small business bankruptcy filings, and costs of compliance with rules, including whether relevant Federal agencies are applying sound cost-benefit analysis in promulgating rules; efforts to avoid duplicative or conflicting rulemakings, including an evaluation of the consultative process under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of , information requests, and examinations; and other matters related to the operations of financial services regulations deemed by the Comptroller General to be appropriate. Not later than the end of the 30-day period following the completion of a study conducted pursuant to subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall issue a report to the Congress containing a detailed description of all findings and conclusions made by the Comptroller General in carrying out such study, together with such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Comptroller General may determine to be appropriate.
Under 12 U.S.C. § 5496b, the Comptroller General of the United States — the head of the Government Accountability Office — is required to conduct a study of financial services regulations on a recurring annual basis, beginning within 180 days of the law's enactment. Each study must examine how regulation affects the financial marketplace, including credit availability, consumer savings, compliance costs, and whether agencies are applying sound cost-benefit analysis. Within 30 days of completing each study, the Comptroller General must deliver a detailed report to Congress that includes findings, conclusions, and any recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in regulated financial services contexts — such as those subject to mortgage lending or consumer financial protection rules — may find that 12 U.S.C. § 5496b produces publicly available GAO reports that document compliance cost trends and regulatory burden across the industry. Compliant operators generally monitor these periodic reports as part of their broader regulatory awareness practices, since the studies assess whether agencies are applying sound cost-benefit analysis to their rulemaking. Staying current with GAO findings under this provision can inform how operators engage with trade associations or submit comments during future rulemaking processes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 12 U.S.C. § 5496b, consumers benefit from a structured oversight mechanism that requires the GAO to regularly examine whether financial regulations — including those affecting credit availability and consumer paperwork burdens — are working as intended. The resulting reports to Congress are public documents, meaning tenants and housing advocates can review GAO findings to better understand how regulatory trends may be shaping the mortgage and consumer credit markets that affect housing access. Tenants who believe a financial regulation is being misapplied may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or housing counselor, who can help identify whether relevant GAO reports or Congressional findings bear on their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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