Payday lending reform needs your support now!

Tomorrow morning could be Alabama's best -- and likely last -- chance this session to see payday lending reform pass. The House Financial Services Committee is meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, to vote on SB 91, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, which models Colorado’s payday loan reform laws.

Payday loans are short-term loans that carry annual interest rates of up to 456 percent a year in Alabama, often trapping borrowers in cycles of debt that can be hard to escape. SB 91 would reduce the interest rates and give borrowers at least six months to repay their loans, increasing affordability and reducing the default risk. The bill also would allow payday borrowers to pay down the principal in installments instead of the all-or-nothing, lump-sum payment now required.

For several years, lobbyists have successfully blocked this reform, which has support from organizations and churches across the state, and from Republicans and Democrats alike. We need you to call the State House at (334) 242-7600 to voice your support for payday lending reform and Senate Bill 91 by Senator Orr.

To find your legislator and email him or her, click this link:
Find Your Alabama Legislator

Email your House member today and ask them to help get SB 91 Payday Lending Reform by Sen. Orr out of committee and on the House floor for a vote!

Here are email addresses for House members on the Financial Services Committee. Please email them and tell them you want the bill to go to the floor for a vote!

Ken Johnson, Chairman Ken.Johnson@alhouse.gov

Mack Butler, Vice Chair Mack.Butler@alhouse.gov

Marcel Black Marcel.Black@alhouse.gov

Chris Blackshear Chris.Blackshear@alhouse.gov

Mericka Coleman-Evans Merika.Coleman@alhouse.gov

David Faulkner David.Faulkner@alhouse.gov

Mike Hill Mike.Hill@alhouse.gov

Reed Ingram Reed.Ingram@alhouse.gov

Jimmy Martin Jimmy.Martin@alhouse.gov

Thad McClammy Thad.McClammy@alhouse.gov

Oliver Robinson Oliver.Robinson@alhouse.gov

Randall Shedd Randall.Shedd@alhouse.gov

Rich Wingo Rich.Wingo@alhouse.gov