September 3, 2026, The American Banker, As feds retreat, California boosts fair-lending enforcement
If the federal government will not defend these groups, Squires said, it’s up to individual states to step in.
“I think it’s necessary because it’s clear that the federal government isn’t going to do anything,” he said. “The fact is the federal government is no longer in the fair-housing business.”
The National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, also hailed the California bill as a step in the right direction.
“Given the persistent deregulatory efforts at the federal level, it is refreshing to see,” Tara Flynn, the NCRC’s policy director, told American Banker by email. “It is an important first step, but there is more to do.”
