89R2482 MLH-D By: Bucy H.B. No. 476 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the maximum permitted rate of interest, sum of fees, and other amounts that may be charged in connection with deferred presentment transactions; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 342, Finance Code, is amended by adding Section 342.606 to read as follows: Sec. 342.606. MAXIMUM INTEREST RATES. (a) Unless a lower rate of interest is otherwise provided by law, the maximum rate or amount of interest that may be contracted for, charged, or received from a borrower is: (1) for a deferred presentment transaction that advances more than $300, 38.5 percent a year; and (2) for a deferred presentment transaction that advances not more than $300, 36 percent a year. (b) A deferred presentment transaction entered into in violation of this section is void and unenforceable. (c) A lender commits an offense if the lender enters into a deferred presentment transaction in violation of this section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 393, Finance Code, is amended by adding Section 393.629 to read as follows: Sec. 393.629. RESTRICTION ON CHARGES CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH DEFERRED PRESENTMENT TRANSACTIONS. (a) For purposes of this section, the annual percentage rate of an extension of consumer credit in the form of a deferred presentment transaction is calculated including the total charges charged to the consumer in connection with the extension of consumer credit, including interest, lender charges, and any fees or any other valuable consideration received by the credit access business or a representative of the credit access business. (b) The annual percentage rate of an extension of consumer credit in the form of a deferred presentment transaction that a credit access business obtains for a consumer or assists a consumer in obtaining may not exceed: (1) for a deferred presentment transaction that advances more than $300, 38.5 percent; and (2) for a deferred presentment transaction that advances not more than $300, 36 percent. (c) A deferred presentment transaction entered into in violation of this section is void and unenforceable. SECTION 3. Sections 342.606 and 393.629, Finance Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a loan or extension of consumer credit, as applicable, made on or after the effective date of this Act. A loan or extension of consumer credit made before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the loan or extension of consumer credit was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, a refinance of a loan or extension of consumer credit is considered made on the date the loan or extension of consumer credit being refinanced was made. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.