HB 545 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS: Changes fees charged by lenders

HB 545 caps interest rates for consumer loans in Louisiana based on loan amounts: 36% annually for balances up to $10,400, 27% for amounts between $10,401 and $42,000, 24% for balances between $42,001 and $7,000 (note: likely a typo for $70,000), and 21% for amounts over $7,000. It also limits upfront origination fees to $575 for consumer loans or revolving accounts. The bill directly affects Louisiana consumers taking personal loans and licensed lenders offering such loans. These changes aim to standardize and restrict borrowing costs under state law. The bill is currently in early stages (prefiled February 2026) with no voting record yet.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB545 Original → HB545 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates Louisiana laws governing maximum interest rates and fees for consumer loans. It significantly raises the loan amounts at which interest rates decrease, making high-interest rates applicable to larger loans. Additionally, it increases the maximum allowable origination fee from $50 to $75.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of loans subject to lower interest rate tiers by increasing the principal amount thresholds from $1,400/$4,000/$7,000 to $10,000/$20,000.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the principal loan amount thresholds for reduced interest rate tiers from $1,400 to $10,000, $4,000 to $20,000, and removed the $7,000 tier entirely.

Raised the maximum permitted origination fee on consumer loans and revolving accounts from $50 to $75.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original legislative purpose statement regarding 'maximum charges by lenders' and replaced it with a more specific focus on 'maximum charges' and 'origination fees'.

Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2026 · House Mar 24, 2026

How they voted

34–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 40

May 12, 2026

D Democratic12

8 Yea 4

66% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (16-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Commerce.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors