Legislation to cap interest rates on high-cost small loans in California, cleared a major hurdle Wednesday in the state Senate despite strong opposition from lenders with deep pockets.

The Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee approved Assembly Bill 539, which would set an annual interest rate cap of 36% plus a federal funds rate of 2.5% on loans from 2 $ 500 to $ 10,000, with a bipartisan vote of 6-0.

After years of unsuccessful attempts to set limits that would prevent triple-digit interest rates on small loans, lawmakers pushed the bill forward and resisted lenders who have invested millions of dollars in recent years in lobbying efforts and campaign contributions – including $ 39,000 to Senators last month.

California has fallen behind the rest of the country in its efforts to regulate small loans. In a 2018 report, the National Consumer Law Center said 39 other states implemented five-year loan limits of $ 10,000.

The state limits interest rates on loans under $ 2,500 to between 12% and 30% per annum. With no monetary limit on loans valued between $ 2,500 and $ 10,000, some lenders have set rates over 200% on high-risk borrowers.

California is lagging behind in regulating short-term lenders. This bill could finally contain them >>

More than a third of California borrowers who take out loans at interest rates of 100% or more end up in default, according to the Department of State Affairs. Advocates say these loans are designed to fail.

“I can’t think of another product that fails so often without government intervention to step in,” said MP Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), who introduced the bill.

Nearly 20 lenders, which offer auto title loans, personal loans, and other installment loans, have spent about $ 3.5 million lobbying on the State Capitol since 2017. More than one dozen have given an additional $ 3.2 million to lawmakers, political parties and campaign committees over the past decade.

Opponents of the bill say the rate cap will push many lenders out of the California market, making it more difficult for subprime borrowers with poor or no credit to get loans.

“With the passage of this bill, we have the impression that you are taking another option away from us and that is very concerning,” said Maria Bello, a resident of Rancho Cordova who testified against the bill. “We have to open up our options.”

Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) abstained from the vote and said he agreed to limit Californians’ access to loans.

“Usually, those who advocate for these programs are not the ones who use these programs,” Hueso said. “Telling people how to manage their finances, I don’t think it’s the government’s job to do that.”

Lenders who oppose the legislation have paid campaign money to several state senators on the committee in recent weeks, including Hueso and Sens. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), Anna Caballero (D- Salinas), Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) and Brian Dahle (R-Bieber).

Several state senators have questioned the morality of allowing lenders to offer loans at high interest rates.

Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) noted that some low-income borrowers are at high risk of default, which is why lenders offer loans at extremely high rates.

“The risk is higher, but imagine the risk when the percentage rate is so high,” she says.

Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) said the proposal requires lawmakers to weigh the cost of high interest rates against the possibility of limiting certain borrowers’ access to capital.

“There are people who are victims of predators,” Portantino said. “There are people who need that last minute loan to get through this week. How do you protect someone on both ends of this conversation? “

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