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SAFE Lending Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-780| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2025
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (11)
Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill significantly amends the Truth in Lending Act and Electronic Fund Transfer Act to bolster consumer protections, particularly in electronic and small-dollar lending. It introduces new safeguards by prohibiting unauthorized remotely created checks, requiring consumers to explicitly designate their bank for such checks, and allowing revocation of these designations. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that electronic fund transfers used to repay small-dollar consumer credit transactions be treated as preauthorized, thereby extending greater protections to consumers. For small-dollar consumer credit transactions, defined as loans up to $5,000, the bill establishes a registration requirement for lenders with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. A crucial provision ensures that small-dollar credit extended remotely, such as over the internet or by telephone, must comply with the annual percentage rates, interest, and fee laws of the consumer's resident state . The bill also addresses prepaid accounts, explicitly prohibiting fees for overdrafts and granting the Bureau authority to ban other fees to prevent unfair or abusive practices. To combat predatory practices, the legislation imposes restrictions on lead generation in small-dollar consumer credit transactions. It requires entities facilitating the distribution of sensitive personal financial information to disclose their contact details and prohibits such facilitation unless the entity is directly providing the credit. Finally, the bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the availability of capital and the impact of small-dollar credit on economic opportunity and wealth for members of Indian Tribes.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-656
SAFE Lending Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-5099
SAFE Lending Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-5129
SAFE Lending Act of 2024
Feb 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1658
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-656
    SAFE Lending Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-5099
    SAFE Lending Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-5129
    SAFE Lending Act of 2024


  • February 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1658
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1658: SAFE Lending Act of 2025

SAFE Lending Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-780| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2025
This bill significantly amends the Truth in Lending Act and Electronic Fund Transfer Act to bolster consumer protections, particularly in electronic and small-dollar lending. It introduces new safeguards by prohibiting unauthorized remotely created checks, requiring consumers to explicitly designate their bank for such checks, and allowing revocation of these designations. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that electronic fund transfers used to repay small-dollar consumer credit transactions be treated as preauthorized, thereby extending greater protections to consumers. For small-dollar consumer credit transactions, defined as loans up to $5,000, the bill establishes a registration requirement for lenders with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. A crucial provision ensures that small-dollar credit extended remotely, such as over the internet or by telephone, must comply with the annual percentage rates, interest, and fee laws of the consumer's resident state . The bill also addresses prepaid accounts, explicitly prohibiting fees for overdrafts and granting the Bureau authority to ban other fees to prevent unfair or abusive practices. To combat predatory practices, the legislation imposes restrictions on lead generation in small-dollar consumer credit transactions. It requires entities facilitating the distribution of sensitive personal financial information to disclose their contact details and prohibits such facilitation unless the entity is directly providing the credit. Finally, the bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the availability of capital and the impact of small-dollar credit on economic opportunity and wealth for members of Indian Tribes.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-656
SAFE Lending Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-5099
SAFE Lending Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-5129
SAFE Lending Act of 2024
Feb 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1658
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-656
    SAFE Lending Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-5099
    SAFE Lending Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-5129
    SAFE Lending Act of 2024


  • February 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1658
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (11)
Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • HR 119-1658: SAFE Lending Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted