On March 24, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB“) released a proposal to amend Equal Credit Opportunity Act regulations. The proposal would provide flexibility for lenders in collecting information about mortgage applicants’ ethnicity, race and sex. The CFPB’s proposal is meant to provide clarity to mortgage lenders regarding their obligations under the law and to promote compliance with rules intended to ensure that consumers are treated fairly. The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Press Release. Proposal.