On May 12, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Rohit Chopra, former Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, will serve as Secretary of California’s new Business and Consumer Services Agency (“BCSA”). The BCSA is scheduled to launch on July 1, 2026.
The new agency will consolidate a broad range of licensing, supervisory, and enforcement functions affecting consumer-facing industries. BCSA will oversee several key departments, including the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Department of Real Estate.
California has been a leader in state efforts to fill the void left by the decrease in CFPB enforcement activity, and the appointment of Chopra signals California’s continued focus on consumer protection. During his time at the CFPB, Chopra was known for his aggressive positions on issues including fees and so-called “repeat offenders” and for high remediation and penalty amounts in settled matters.
Governor Newsom’s office emphasized Chopra’s record of addressing junk fees, corporate misconduct, and unfair practices affecting consumers and small businesses and stated that the BCSA will build on the state’s existing efforts to address junk fees, expand enforcement against scams and predatory practices, strengthen online privacy and consumer-data protections, and increase corporate transparency and accountability.
Companies offering consumer financial services or small business loan products in California should take note. We will continue to monitor the BSCA’s launch and enforcement activity.