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HF 290

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/30/2023 08:20pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to financial institutions; regulating interest rates for consumer short-term
and small loans; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 47.59, subdivision
2; 47.60, subdivision 2; 47.601, subdivisions 2, 6; 53.04, subdivision 3a; 56.131,
subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 47.59, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Application.

Extensions of credit or purchases of extensions of credit by
financial institutions under sections 47.20, 47.21, 47.201, 47.204, 47.58, deleted text begin 47.60,deleted text end 48.153,
48.185, 48.195, 59A.01 to 59A.15, 334.01, 334.011, 334.012, 334.022, 334.06, and 334.061
to 334.19 may, but need not, be made according to those sections in lieu of the authority
set forth in this section to the extent those sections authorize the financial institution to make
extensions of credit or purchase extensions of credit under those sections. If a financial
institution elects to make an extension of credit or to purchase an extension of credit under
those other sections, the extension of credit or the purchase of an extension of credit is
subject to those sections and not this section, except this subdivision, and except as expressly
provided in those sections. A financial institution may also charge an organization a rate of
interest and any charges agreed to by the organization and may calculate and collect finance
and other charges in any manner agreed to by that organization. Except for extensions of
credit a financial institution elects to make under section 334.01, 334.011, 334.012, 334.022,
334.06, or 334.061 to 334.19, chapter 334 does not apply to extensions of credit made
according to this section or the sections listed in this subdivision. This subdivision does not
authorize a financial institution to extend credit or purchase an extension of credit under
any of the sections listed in this subdivision if the financial institution is not authorized to
do so under those sections. A financial institution extending credit under any of the sections
listed in this subdivision shall specify in the promissory note, contract, or other loan document
the section under which the extension of credit is made.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 47.60, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Authorization, terms, conditions, and prohibitions.

(a) deleted text begin In lieu of the interest,
finance charges, or fees in any other law,
deleted text end A consumer small loan lender may charge deleted text begin the
following:
deleted text end new text begin interest, finance charges, and fees which, when combined, must not exceed an
annual percentage rate, as defined in section 47.59, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), of 36
percent.
new text end

deleted text begin (1) on any amount up to and including $50, a charge of $5.50 may be added;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) on amounts in excess of $50, but not more than $100, a charge may be added equal
to ten percent of the loan proceeds plus a $5 administrative fee;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) on amounts in excess of $100, but not more than $250, a charge may be added equal
to seven percent of the loan proceeds with a minimum of $10 plus a $5 administrative fee;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) for amounts in excess of $250 and not greater than the maximum in subdivision 1,
paragraph (a), a charge may be added equal to six percent of the loan proceeds with a
minimum of $17.50 plus a $5 administrative fee.
deleted text end

(b) The term of a loan made under this section shall be for no more than 30 calendar
days.

(c) After maturity, the contract rate must not exceed 2.75 percent per month of the
remaining loan proceeds after the maturity date calculated at a rate of 1/30 of the monthly
rate in the contract for each calendar day the balance is outstanding.

(d) No insurance charges or other charges must be permitted to be charged, collected,
or imposed on a consumer small loan except as authorized in this section.

(e) On a loan transaction in which cash is advanced in exchange for a personal check,
a return check charge may be charged as authorized by section 604.113, subdivision 2,
paragraph (a). The civil penalty provisions of section 604.113, subdivision 2, paragraph
(b), may not be demanded or assessed against the borrower.

(f) A loan made under this section must not be repaid by the proceeds of another loan
made under this section by the same lender or related interest. The proceeds from a loan
made under this section must not be applied to another loan from the same lender or related
interest. No loan to a single borrower made pursuant to this section shall be split or divided
and no single borrower shall have outstanding more than one loan with the result of collecting
a higher charge than permitted by this section or in an aggregate amount of principal exceed
at any one time the maximum of $350.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 47.601, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Consumer short-term loan contract.

(a) No contract or agreement between
a consumer short-term loan lender and a borrower residing in Minnesota may contain the
following:

(1) a provision selecting a law other than Minnesota law under which the contract is
construed or enforced;

(2) a provision choosing a forum for dispute resolution other than the state of Minnesota;
or

(3) a provision limiting class actions against a consumer short-term lender for violations
of subdivision 3 or for making consumer short-term loans:

(i) without a required license issued by the commissioner; or

(ii) in which interest rates, fees, charges, or loan amounts exceed those allowable under
section deleted text begin 47.59, subdivision 6, ordeleted text end 47.60, subdivision 2deleted text begin , other than by de minimis amounts if
no pattern or practice exists
deleted text end .

(b) Any provision prohibited by paragraph (a) is void and unenforceable.

(c) A consumer short-term loan lender must furnish a copy of the written loan contract
to each borrower. The contract and disclosures must be written in the language in which
the loan was negotiated with the borrower and must contain:

(1) the name; address, which may not be a post office box; and telephone number of the
lender making the consumer short-term loan;

(2) the name and title of the individual employee or representative who signs the contract
on behalf of the lender;

(3) an itemization of the fees and interest charges to be paid by the borrower;

(4) in bold, 24-point type, the annual percentage rate as computed under United States
Code, chapter 15, section 1606; and

(5) a description of the borrower's payment obligations under the loan.

(d) The holder or assignee of a check or other instrument evidencing an obligation of a
borrower in connection with a consumer short-term loan takes the instrument subject to all
claims by and defenses of the borrower against the consumer short-term lender.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 47.601, subdivision 6, is amended to read:


Subd. 6.

Penalties for violation; private right of action.

(a) Except for a "bona fide
error" as set forth under United States Code, chapter 15, section 1640, subsection (c), an
individual or entity who violates subdivision 2 or 3 is liable to the borrower for:

(1) all money collected or received in connection with the loan;

(2) actual, incidental, and consequential damages;

(3) statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation;

(4) costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees; and

(5) injunctive relief.

(b) In addition to the remedies provided in paragraph (a), a loan is void, and the borrower
is not obligated to pay any amounts owing if the loan is made:

(1) by a consumer short-term lender who has not obtained an applicable license from
the commissioner;

(2) in violation of any provision of subdivision 2 or 3; or

(3) in which interest, fees, charges, or loan amounts exceed the interest, fees, charges,
or loan amounts allowable under deleted text begin sections 47.59, subdivision 6, anddeleted text end new text begin sectionnew text end 47.60, subdivision
2
.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 53.04, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:


Subd. 3a.

Loans.

(a) The right to make loans, secured or unsecured, at the rates and on
the terms and other conditions permitted under chapters 47 and 334. Loans made under this
authority must be in amounts in compliance with section 53.05, clause (7). A licensee making
a loan under this chapter secured by a lien on real estate shall comply with the requirements
of section 47.20, subdivision 8.new text begin A licensee making a loan that is a consumer small loan, as
defined in section 47.60, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), must comply with section 47.60. A
licensee making a loan that is a consumer short-term loan, as defined in section 47.601,
subdivision 1, paragraph (d), must comply with section 47.601.
new text end

(b) Loans made under this subdivision may be secured by real or personal property, or
both. If the proceeds of a loan secured by a first lien on the borrower's primary residence
are used to finance the purchase of the borrower's primary residence, the loan must comply
with the provisions of section 47.20.

(c) An agency or instrumentality of the United States government or a corporation
otherwise created by an act of the United States Congress or a lender approved or certified
by the secretary of housing and urban development, or approved or certified by the
administrator of veterans affairs, or approved or certified by the administrator of the Farmers
Home Administration, or approved or certified by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation, or approved or certified by the Federal National Mortgage Association, that
engages in the business of purchasing or taking assignments of mortgage loans and undertakes
direct collection of payments from or enforcement of rights against borrowers arising from
mortgage loans, is not required to obtain a certificate of authorization under this chapter in
order to purchase or take assignments of mortgage loans from persons holding a certificate
of authorization under this chapter.

(d) This subdivision does not authorize an industrial loan and thrift company to make
loans under an overdraft checking plan.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 56.131, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Interest rates and charges.

(a) On any loan in a principal amount not
exceeding $100,000 or 15 percent of a Minnesota corporate licensee's capital stock and
surplus as defined in section 53.015, if greater, a licensee may contract for and receive
interest, finance charges, and other charges as provided in section 47.59.

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a licensee making a loan that is a consumer small
loan, as defined in section 47.60, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), must comply with section
47.60. A licensee making a loan that is a consumer short-term loan, as defined in section
47.601, subdivision 1, paragraph (d), must comply with section 47.601.
new text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end With respect to a loan secured by an interest in real estate, and having a maturity
of more than 60 months, the original schedule of installment payments must fully amortize
the principal and interest on the loan. The original schedule of installment payments for any
other loan secured by an interest in real estate must provide for payment amounts that are
sufficient to pay all interest scheduled to be due on the loan.

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end A licensee may contract for and collect a delinquency charge as provided for in
section 47.59, subdivision 6, paragraph (a), clause (4).

deleted text begin (d)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end A licensee may grant extensions, deferments, or conversions to interest-bearing
as provided in section 47.59, subdivision 5.