Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act

Bill Number: H.R. 880
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Transportation and Public Works
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-02-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Last Updated: 2026-06-11T23:26:39Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 880) aims to strengthen consumer protections in the interstate and intrastate transportation of household goods (such as furniture and personal items during moves). It clarifies and expands the enforcement authority of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, to address violations by carriers and brokers. The bill also enhances state-level enforcement tools while promoting transparency in business registrations to prevent fraud and abuse in the moving industry.

Key Provisions

Enforcement of Civil Penalties: Allows the Secretary of Transportation (through the FMCSA Administrator) to directly assess civil penalties after notice and a hearing for violations of federal commercial motor vehicle regulations, including those related to household goods shipping. This applies to specific chapters of U.S. law covering motor carrier safety and operations.
State Use of Grant Funds: Permits states to use federal motor carrier safety grants for enforcing household goods transportation laws and regulations. This includes both interstate (crossing state lines) shipments and intrastate (within a state) shipments if the state's rules align with federal standards. States have discretion to participate without it affecting their grant eligibility.
State Retention of Penalties: States can keep fines and penalties they impose on carriers or brokers for violations, rather than sending them to the federal government.
Registration Requirements:
Defines "principal place of business" as a main physical location where a company manages operations, conducts significant business, and keeps required records.
Defines "specified entity" to include employers, individuals, motor carriers (including foreign ones), brokers, and freight forwarders.
Requires motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers to designate a principal place of business and disclose any close relationships (e.g., shared ownership, management, control, or family ties) with other similar entities from the past three years when applying for federal registration.
Mandates a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number for registration, which can be withheld, suspended, or revoked if a valid principal place of business is not designated.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Expands the FMCSA's direct role in imposing civil penalties, previously more limited to the Surface Transportation Board, making enforcement faster and more targeted at household goods violations.
Adds household goods enforcement as an optional use for federal safety grants, which were previously focused on broader motor carrier issues like driver safety.
Introduces new registration rules requiring a physical business location and relationship disclosures, aimed at weeding out "ghost" or fraudulent operations that lack a verifiable U.S. base.
Allows states to retain enforcement revenues, shifting from full federal collection to incentivize state-level action.
These changes amend Title 49 of the U.S. Code, which governs transportation, without altering core safety standards but enhancing oversight mechanisms.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: The FMCSA gains clearer authority and tools for penalties and registrations, potentially reducing administrative burdens by streamlining enforcement. States benefit from flexible grant uses and retained fines, encouraging more local policing of moving companies without new federal mandates.
On Citizens: Consumers shipping household goods (e.g., during relocations) may see improved protection against scams, delayed deliveries, or damaged items, as stronger enforcement targets unreliable carriers and brokers. This could lead to fewer complaints and more reliable services.
On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though foreign motor carriers must now comply with principal place of business rules, which could affect cross-border moving services involving Canada or Mexico by requiring verifiable U.S. operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Consumers: Individuals and families using moving services, who stand to gain from reduced fraud and better accountability.
Household Goods Carriers and Brokers: Moving companies and intermediaries, who face stricter registration, disclosure, and penalty rules, potentially increasing compliance costs but promoting fair competition.
Freight Forwarders and Motor Carriers: Broader transportation entities involved in goods shipping, required to maintain a physical U.S. business presence.
State Governments: Gain enforcement resources and revenue retention, empowering them to protect local residents.
Federal Agencies: Primarily the FMCSA and Department of Transportation, with expanded but clarified responsibilities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces federal preemption (where national rules override conflicting state laws) for interstate commerce while allowing compatible state intrastate rules, aligning with the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The disclosure requirements may raise minor privacy concerns for business owners but are limited to anti-fraud purposes and past three years.
Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated; the bill supports interstate commerce regulation without infringing on states' rights, as participation in grants and enforcement is optional.
Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from both parties) reflects a focus on consumer protection in a vulnerable sector. It could set a precedent for decentralizing enforcement in transportation, balancing federal oversight with state incentives, potentially influencing future bills on industry regulation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Cosponsors (25)

Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert [R-PA-8], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]

Recent Actions

2025-02-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2025-01-31: Introduced in House
2025-01-31: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E80-81)
2025-01-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act — issued 2025-01-31 — PDF (9 pages)