Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in a unified call to Congress, urging swift passage of legislation designed to curb the onslaught of unsolicited and deceptive mortgage-related robocalls and texts plaguing homebuyers.
The proposed Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 2808 / S. 1467) aims to reform the current system that allows for the widespread sale of consumer data, known as “trigger leads.”
Attorney General Skrmetti, alongside Attorneys General Alan Wilson (SC), Marty Jackley (SD), Jeff Jackson (NC), and Aaron Ford (NV), is spearheading this initiative to protect consumers who, upon applying for a mortgage, are immediately inundated with unwanted communications. These calls and texts often stem from the legal, yet highly criticized, practice of selling consumer information under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
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“Tennessee families shouldn’t be ambushed by scammers and high-pressure salespeople the second they try to buy a home,” stated Attorney General Skrmetti. “When Tennesseans apply for a mortgage, they’re making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives – not signing up to have their personal information auctioned off to the highest bidder. Congress must step in and end this categorical invasion of privacy.”
Under existing federal law, credit reporting agencies are permitted to sell “trigger leads” – real-time notifications containing sensitive personal information like names, addresses, and credit details – immediately after an individual applies for a mortgage. This practice creates what critics describe as a “feeding frenzy,” leaving consumers with virtually no means of opting out of the subsequent barrage of solicitations.
The proposed Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act seeks to rectify this by restricting the use of trigger leads to businesses with a pre-existing relationship with the consumer or those who have secured explicit consent. Proponents argue this targeted reform will safeguard consumer privacy while simultaneously preserving healthy competition within the mortgage market.
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For years, state attorneys general have found their hands tied by federal preemption under the FCRA, which has largely blocked states from implementing stronger consumer protections. This has resulted in limited recourse for consumers at the state level. The urgency for federal intervention is underscored by the fact that a similar measure passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in 2023.
With growing bipartisan momentum in both the House and Senate, coupled with widespread support from consumer advocates and industry groups, the coalition of attorneys general is pressuring Congress to enact this crucial and long-overdue consumer protection reform.
In addition to Attorneys General Wilson, Jackley, Jackson, and Ford, Attorney General Skrmetti is joined in this effort by attorneys general from American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
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