PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 30, 2017
Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act or Christopher's Law
This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a private student loan lender to disclose clearly and conspicuously in writing a cosigner's obligations regarding a private student loan. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must publish a model form for such disclosure.
The bill prohibits a private student loan lender from taking an adverse action against a borrower (e.g., placing a loan in default or accelerating a loan balance) upon a cosigner's death, disability, or bankruptcy. It also prohibits adverse actions against a cosigner for a borrower's death, disability, or bankruptcy.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The CFPB must establish and a private student loan lender must disclose criteria for releasing a cosigner from a private student loan obligation.
A private student loan lender must also:
provide prompt notice of a cosigner's release;
allow a borrower to designate a legal representative to make decisions upon the death or disability of such borrower; and
ensure a borrower and cosigner receive comprehensive counseling on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of a private student loan.
Additionally, this bill amendsthe Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the required elements of entrance counseling for a federal student loan borrower to include:
conditions for loan discharge upon the death or disability of a borrower,
options for loan repayment and forgiveness upon the death or disability of a borrower or cosigner, and
obligations of a borrower or cosigner upon the death or disability of a borrower.
It requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of a student's option to designate a legal representative to make decisions about a federal student loan upon such student's death or disability.
People & committees
Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · D–NJ
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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