8 state bills that set or rewrite rules for earned wage access became law in 2025 and 2026, in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Utah and Wisconsin. Maryland passed one in each year. Another 7 enacted bills made smaller changes, such as fee schedules, data-security duties and a cross-reference fix.
Earned wage access (EWA) lets a worker get part of their pay before payday, through an employer program or an app. Laws differ on whether it counts as a loan, whether providers need a license, and how fees and tips are treated.
We found 77 bills that deal with EWA in 32 states in 2025–26 sessions, counting Oklahoma bills carried over from 2025 to 2026 once. In Congress, H.R. 9330, the Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act, was reported by the House Financial Services Committee and placed on the House Union Calendar on 2026-09-01. It has not passed the House.
Laws that set or rewrite EWA rules, 2025–26
| Jurisdiction | Bill | Status | Last action | What it does (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | HB1517 | Enacted | 2025-03-20 | Creates the Earned Wage Access Services Act. Sets disclosure and fee rules, says a tip is not a fee, and says a provider that follows the act is not lending, transmitting money or collecting debt. Act 347 of 2025. |
| Indiana | HB1125 | Enacted | 2025-05-06 | Requires EWA providers to be licensed by the state, with disclosure rules and a no-cost option when a provider asks for tips. It also changes some loan finance charge rules. Public Law 222 of 2025. |
| Louisiana | HB368 | Enacted | 2025-07-01 | Sets rules for EWA providers, including disclosures, a no-cost option when tips are requested and an annual report to the Office of Financial Institutions; says a compliant provider is not lending or collecting debt. Act 496 of 2025, effective Aug. 1, 2025. |
| Maryland | HB1294 | Enacted | 2025-05-25 | Brings certain EWA products under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law, with licensing or registration, limits on costs and fees, and limits on tips. Chapter 847 of 2025, effective Oct. 1, 2025. |
| Maryland | SB94 | Enacted | 2026-04-28 | Bars lenders, including EWA providers covered by the Maryland Consumer Loan Law, from accepting tips or offering a tip option, and changes refund timelines. Chapter 170 of 2026, effective Oct. 1, 2026. |
| Missouri | HB2423 | Enacted | 2026-04-23 | Changes Missouri's EWA rules from registration to a license from the Division of Finance. Says EWA under the law is not a loan or money transmission and tips are not fees. Approved April 23, 2026. |
| Utah | HB0279 | Enacted | 2025-03-25 | Creates the Earned Wage Access Services Act. Providers must register with the Division of Consumer Protection, disclose all fees and tip options, and may not use collections, credit reporting or late fees for nonpayment. |
| Wisconsin | AB1025 | Enacted | 2026-04-03 | Caps EWA fees at $5 for an advance of $75 or less and $7.50 for a larger advance, adjusted for inflation every five years from 2030. Wisconsin Act 199, enacted April 3, 2026. |
Maryland’s 2026 law (SB94) took effect October 1, 2026, according to the bill text.
Enacted bills with smaller EWA provisions
| Jurisdiction | Bill | Status | Last action | What it does (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | SB0169 | Enacted | 2026-03-05 | Moves Indiana's consumer lending laws, including the EWA chapter, into a new title of the Indiana Code. Public Law 115 of 2026. |
| Kansas | HB2342 | Enacted | 2025-04-10 | Mostly about criminal history checks. Also updates the state bank commissioner's powers under Kansas's EWA law. Approved April 8, 2025. |
| Kansas | HB2591 | Enacted | 2026-04-09 | Broad financial-institutions bill. Makes registered EWA providers subject to the Kansas financial institutions information security act. Approved April 9, 2026. |
| Nevada | SB44 | Enacted | 2025-05-27 | Requires many financial service providers, EWA providers among them, to safeguard customer information. Chapter 45 of 2025. |
| Utah | HB0008 | Enacted | 2026-03-26 | State fee bill. Sets the EWA registration and renewal fee at $500. |
| Utah | SB0038 | Enacted | 2026-03-17 | Broad consumer-protection bill that amends sections of Utah's Earned Wage Access Services Act. |
| Wisconsin | AB930 | Enacted | 2026-03-27 | Fixes a cross-reference in Wisconsin's EWA enforcement law. Wisconsin Act 133 of 2026. |
Bills in Congress
| Jurisdiction | Bill | Status | Last action | What it does (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | HB10184 | Introduced | 2026-09-16: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 – 21. | Broad CFPB bill. Section 304 covers EWA, including a required no-cost option. |
| Congress | HB9330 | Introduced | 2026-09-01: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 690. | Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act. Would set federal rules for EWA under the CFPB and say that EWA provided under the act, and its fees or tips, are not credit or a loan under federal law. |
Other state bills, 2025–26
Status and last action are as LegiScan records them. Many bills still listed as "Introduced" are in sessions that have ended and did not pass.
| Jurisdiction | Bill | Status | Last action | What it does (our summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | SB281 | Introduced | 2025-05-06: Currently Indefinitely Postponed | Would set standards for EWA platforms and say they are not lenders or debt collectors. |
| Arizona | HB2309 | Introduced | 2026-02-10: House minority caucus: Do pass | Would require EWA providers to be licensed. |
| Arizona | SB1582 | Introduced | 2025-03-06: Senate Committee of the Whole action: Do Pass Amended | Would require EWA providers to be licensed. |
| Colorado | HB1020 | Failed | 2025-02-27: House Committee on Finance Postpone Indefinitely | Would regulate EWA services. |
| Colorado | HB1046 | Introduced | 2026-05-14: House Committee on Appropriations Lay Over Unamended – Amendment(s) Failed | Would regulate EWA services. |
| Connecticut | HB05007 | Introduced | 2025-01-08: Referred to Joint Committee on Banking | Would allow EWA by persons licensed by the Banking Commissioner. |
| Delaware | SB137 | Introduced | 2025-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits | Would regulate EWA providers. |
| Florida | H1391 | Failed | 2025-06-16: Died in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee | Would require EWA providers to register with the Financial Services Commission. |
| Florida | S0422 | Failed | 2025-06-16: Died in Banking and Insurance | Senate version of H1391. |
| Georgia | SB282 | Introduced | 2026-02-12: Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted | Would add EWA requirements, including fee rules, to the Fair Business Practices Act. |
| Idaho | S1119 | Introduced | 2025-02-20: Reported Printed; referred to Commerce & Human Resources | Would create the Idaho Earned Wage Access Services Act. |
| Kansas | SB248 | Introduced | 2026-01-20: Senate Hearing: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 10:30 AM Room 346-S | Would update fingerprinting rules for EWA providers, among other criminal-history items. Similar provisions became law in HB2342. |
| Kansas | SB410 | Passed one chamber | 2026-03-12: House Motion to accede adopted; Representative Hoheisel, Representative Stiens and Representative Xu appointed as conferees | Would make registered EWA providers subject to the state information security act. The same provision became law in HB2591. |
| Kentucky | HB645 | Introduced | 2025-02-26: to Banking & Insurance (H) | Would license earned income access providers. |
| Kentucky | SB161 | Introduced | 2025-02-19: to Banking & Insurance (S) | Would license EWA providers. |
| Maine | LD1915 | Failed | 2026-02-10: Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) | Would regulate EWA providers. |
| Maryland | HB237 | Introduced | 2026-02-03: Hearing 2/03 at 1:30 p.m. | House version of SB94. |
| Massachusetts | H1119 | Introduced | 2026-03-12: Accompanied a study order, see H5224 | Would license EWA providers through the Division of Banks. Sent to a study order (H5224). |
| Massachusetts | S725 | Introduced | 2026-04-08: Accompanied a study order, see S3047 | Senate version of H1119. Sent to a study order (S3047). |
| Michigan | HB5558 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Recommendation Concurred In | Would create a licensing law for EWA providers. |
| Michigan | HB5559 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from the money transmission act. |
| Michigan | HB5560 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption in the wage payment law. |
| Michigan | HB5561 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from collection agency rules. |
| Michigan | HB5562 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: adds the EWA act to the state's financial licensing acts. |
| Michigan | HB5563 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from collection practices rules. |
| Michigan | HB5564 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: civil procedure change for the EWA act. |
| Michigan | HB5565 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from the deferred presentment (payday) act. |
| Michigan | HB5566 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from the credit reform act. |
| Michigan | HB5567 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from the regulatory loan act. |
| Michigan | HB5568 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from a 1966 interest law. |
| Michigan | HB5569 | Introduced | 2026-04-30: Referred To Second Reading | Companion to HB5558: EWA exemption from criminal usury. |
| Minnesota | HF2874 | Introduced | 2026-03-02: Author stricken Huot | Would regulate EWA services. |
| Minnesota | HF3448 | Introduced | 2026-03-23: Author added Frederick | Would treat some EWA as a consumer small or short-term loan. |
| Minnesota | SF3281 | Introduced | 2025-04-03: Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection | Senate version of HF2874. |
| Minnesota | SF3831 | Introduced | 2026-03-02: Author added Latz | Senate version of HF3448. |
| Mississippi | HB1307 | Failed | 2025-02-13: Died On Calendar | Would create the Mississippi Earned Wage Access Services Act. |
| Mississippi | SB2496 | Failed | 2025-03-04: Died In Committee | Senate version of a Mississippi EWA act. |
| Missouri | HB1113 | Introduced | 2025-05-15: Referred: Emerging Issues(H) | Would change Missouri's EWA rules. |
| Missouri | HB576 | Introduced | 2025-02-27: Referred: Pensions(H) | Would change Missouri's EWA rules. |
| Missouri | SB1021 | Introduced | 2026-03-10: Voted Do Pass S Insurance and Banking Committee | Senate Division of Finance bill with EWA licensing provisions similar to HB2423, which became law. |
| Missouri | SB293 | Introduced | 2025-02-13: Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee | Would change Missouri's EWA rules. |
| New Jersey | S3110 | Introduced | 2026-01-13: Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee | Would create the New Jersey Earned Wage Access Services Act. |
| New Jersey | S4854 | Introduced | 2025-11-10: Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee | Earlier-session version of the New Jersey act. |
| New Mexico | HB59 | Introduced | 2025-01-22: Sent to HCEDC – Referrals: HCEDC/HJC | Would create the Earned Wage Access Services Act. |
| New York | A00258 | Introduced | 2026-01-07: referred to banks | Would license and regulate "income access services". |
| New York | A04918 | Introduced | 2026-01-07: referred to banks | Broad interest-rate cap bill that lists EWA among covered transactions. |
| New York | S01726 | Introduced | 2026-01-07: REFERRED TO JUDICIARY | Senate version of A04918. |
| New York | S03332 | Introduced | 2026-01-07: REFERRED TO BANKS | Senate version of A00258. |
| North Dakota | HB1393 | Passed one chamber | 2025-04-02: Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 16 nays 30 | Would regulate EWA providers, with a penalty. |
| Ohio | HB152 | Introduced | 2025-03-19: Referred to committee: Commerce and Labor | Would regulate EWA services. |
| Ohio | SB117 | Introduced | 2025-02-26: Referred to committee: Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology | Senate version of HB152. |
| Oklahoma | HB2086 | Introduced | 2025-02-24: Policy recommendation to the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight committee; Do Pass Business | Would create the Oklahoma Earned Wage Access Services Act. Carried over to 2026. |
| Oklahoma | SB1469 | Introduced | 2026-02-26: Placed on General Order | Would create the Oklahoma Earned Wage Access Services Act, run by the Department of Consumer Credit. |
| Oklahoma | SB781 | Introduced | 2025-02-04: Second Reading referred to Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism | Would create an Oklahoma EWA act. Carried over to 2026. |
| Texas | HB2043 | Introduced | 2025-04-29: Returned to Calendars Committee | Would require EWA providers to register, with fees. |
| Texas | SB3000 | Introduced | 2025-04-07: Referred to Business & Commerce | Would add consumer protections for EWA products. |
| Texas | SB938 | Introduced | 2025-02-13: Referred to Business & Commerce | Would regulate EWA services, with an administrative penalty. |
| Vermont | H0099 | Introduced | 2025-01-28: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development | Would regulate EWA services. |
| Washington | HB1063 | Introduced | 2026-01-12: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. | Would license businesses that provide EWA. |
| Washington | SB5328 | Passed one chamber | 2026-02-26: Senate Rules "X" file. | Would regulate EWA services. |
| Wisconsin | SB1028 | Failed | 2026-03-23: Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 | Senate version of AB1025. |
| Wisconsin | SB909 | Failed | 2026-03-23: Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 | Senate version of AB930. |
How we built this list
We searched the full text of all 2025 and 2026 bills in LegiScan for the phrase "earned wage access", which returned 100 bill records. We then read each bill’s latest text and history. We kept bills that would create, change or carry out EWA rules, and bills that treat EWA as a loan or cover it in a rate cap. We dropped bills that only list Utah’s EWA act among other chapters, budget bills without an EWA provision, procedural orders, and bills that use the words for another purpose. Companion bills are listed separately. Kentucky HB645 and the New York "income access" bills use different wording and are included. The summaries are ours and are short; read the bill text before relying on one. States that passed EWA laws before 2025 are not listed unless they changed them in 2025–26. Bills that do not use the phrase would not appear in the search.
Source
Bill status, history and texts: LegiScan, data from LegiScan LLC licensed under CC BY 4.0, retrieved through the LegiScan API on October 18, 2026. We selected bills and wrote the summaries. This is not legal advice. Our table is available under CC BY 4.0. Credit "My Credit Guide (mycreditguide.org)".
Steven Reynolds, "Earned Wage Access Laws and Bills by State, 2025-26," My Credit Guide, October 18, 2026, https://mycreditguide.org/data/earned-wage-access-laws/.