State Laws
State Licensing Laws, Summarized
Plain-English summaries of state-level licensing requirements, regulatory bodies, and key statutes. Updated as state law changes.
Maps by industry
Explore state laws by industry
Each regulated industry has its own state-by-state map and law summaries. Choose an industry to see only that industry's requirements.
debt collection
money transmitter
mortgage
State Laws
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Best States to Start a Collection Agency in 2026
Some states let a new collection agency open with a simple bond filing or registration, while others require a full license application with exams, audits, and branch approvals. This list ranks the states where a new agency can get compliant fastest, based on the licensing work our team files every day.
Best License Paths for a Debt Collection Startup in 2026
Third-party agency, debt buyer, collection law firm, or first-party servicer: the business model you pick determines which licenses you need and how heavy the buildout is. This list ranks the main licensing paths for a new collections business and the tradeoffs of each.
Best License Types for Fintech Lenders in 2026
A fintech lending product can sit under several different state license regimes depending on how the credit is structured, who holds the receivable, and how money moves. This list ranks the license types that matter most for fintech lenders and explains when each one is the right foundation.
Best States to Prioritize for Money Transmitter Licensing in 2026
You cannot launch a money transmission product in all fifty states at once, so sequencing is the real strategy. This list ranks the state groups worth prioritizing, from your home state to the modernization-act adopters to the heavyweight markets worth saving for later rounds.
Stay Ahead of the Rules
Recent rule changes, deadline announcements, and state agency updates we are tracking for you.
- Action Massachusetts Attorney General MA Jul 14, 2026
Massachusetts AG obtained court order blocking alleged phantom debt collectors
On June 16, 2026, the Massachusetts Attorney General announced a court order blocking alleged phantom debt collectors, including East Coast Financial, from engaging in debt collection activity while the case proceeds. The order also barred evidence destruction and asset dissipation.
- Info Delaware General Assembly DE Jul 14, 2026
Delaware enacted financial services modernization package covering banking, money transmission, virtual currency, and payment stablecoins
A July 10, 2026 regulatory alert reported that Delaware enacted a three-bill financial services modernization package. The package covers banking modernization, money transmission and virtual currency licensing, and payment stablecoins.
- Info Rhode Island General Assembly RI Jul 14, 2026
Rhode Island enacted capital, liquidity, and governance requirements for nonbank mortgage servicers
A July 10, 2026 regulatory alert reported that Rhode Island enacted a new law imposing capital, liquidity, governance, audit, and risk-management requirements on certain nonbank mortgage servicers. The change points to a more formal prudential framework for state-regulated servicers.
- Action Washington Department of Financial Institutions WA Jul 14, 2026
Washington DFI set July 14, 2026 deadline for Q1 2026 Mortgage Call Report and required Form Version 7 for certain licensees
Washington DFI stated that Q1 2026 Mortgage Call Report filings for Washington were due July 14, 2026. Beginning with 2026, certain mortgage and consumer loan licensees also had to use MCR Form Version 7.
- Action Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions LA Jul 14, 2026
Louisiana new money transmission licensing framework took effect
Louisiana enacted a new money transmission regulatory and licensing framework in June 2026, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026. The framework reportedly replaces the prior Sale of Checks and Money Transmission Act, incorporates multistate supervision concepts, and allows use of NMLS for licensing and examinations.
