The New York state legislature is currently considering a pair of companion bills which would impose detailed notice and records requirements upon student loan servicers. New York Senate bill S5136B, which was passed by the New York Senate earlier this year, and New York House bill A6226B, which is currently under consideration with the New York Legislature’s Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee, would require “creditors and debt collectors” to provide certain written disclosures to borrowers or cosigners of private education loans at the time of the first collection communication (or within five days after the first communication). … Continue Reading
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U.S. Supreme Court grants review of challenge to loan forgiveness
On December 1, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed an application by the Biden Administration to vacate an injunction entered by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals that currently prevents the administration from enacting its plan to forgive approximately $400 billion in federal student loans. Justice Kavanagh—the designated Justice for certain emergency appeals from the Eighth Circuit—referred the Administration’s application to the full Court, which, on its own initiative, converted the application to a petition for writ of certiorari before judgment and granted the petition. … Continue Reading
This week’s podcast episode: Two federal courts deal blow to Biden Administration’s federal student loan forgiveness program: a close look at the decisions
After reviewing the background of the current moratorium on federal student loan payments and the Biden Administration’s decision to grant loan forgiveness, we discuss two recent decisions that have paused the Administration’s ability to proceed with forgiveness. We first analyze the Texas federal district court decision vacating the forgiveness program, including the court’s standing analysis and application of the “major questions doctrine.” … Continue Reading
Eighth Circuit enjoins Biden Administration from proceeding with loan forgiveness plan pending state AG appeal
Yesterday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit granted a request to enjoin the Biden Administration’s federal student loan forgiveness program pending resolution of an appeal filed by state attorneys general of six states (Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina), whose challenge to the loan forgiveness plan had been dismissed in October for lack of Article III standing. … Continue Reading
Eighth Circuit halts Biden Administration’s federal student loan forgiveness program
On the evening of Friday, October 21, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit put a halt—albeit a potentially temporary one—to the Biden Administration’s federal student loan forgiveness program, which had been scheduled to result in loan cancellation for at least some student borrowers only two days later, on October 23.… Continue Reading
CFPB issues Student Loan Servicing Special Edition of Supervisory Highlights
Last week, the CFPB issued a “Student Loan Servicing Special Edition” of Supervisory Highlights. In this blog post, we highlight a stealth expansion of supervisory jurisdiction and focus on the CFPB’s findings in two key areas:
- Transcript withholding policies at institutional lenders (e.g. for-profit colleges that make private loans directly to student); and
- Administration by servicers of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Driven Repayment (IDR), and Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF).
California DFPI issues proposed rules implementing Student Loan Servicing Act
On September 9, 2022, the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (the “DFPI”) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Action that proposes to adopt regulations implementing the Student Loan Servicing Act (section 28100, et seq.) and the Student Loans: Borrower Rights Law (Civil Code section 1788.100, et seq.). … Continue Reading
Illinois provides guides and templates for Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act reporting requirements
Private education lenders doing business in Illinois now have access to official informational guides and templates for meeting the November 1, 2022, reporting requirements under the state’s new Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act (“KBYO”).
Promoted as a means to make borrowers aware of federal student loan options before they turn to private loans, KBYO also seeks to collect and publicize data on private educational lending through an annual reporting obligation imposed on lenders. … Continue Reading
Oregon finalizes student loan servicer regulations with July 1 effective date
On June 27, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services’ (“Department”) Division of Financial Regulation (“Division”) finalized new regulations implementing Senate Bill 485, which requires companies to obtain a license from the Division in order to service student loans in Oregon, unless an exemption applies. The new regulations also establish related servicer requirements and prohibited acts, the supervisory authority of the Director of the Department (“Director”), and the obligations of a student loan ombudsman appointed or designated by the Department pursuant to Senate Bill 485. … Continue Reading
Louisiana enacts new requirements for student loans
On June 18, 2022, Louisiana’s Governor signed into law two new bills that impose new requirements for student loans. Both bills are effective on August 1, 2022.
HB 610. HB 610 creates the following new duties for student loan servicers:
- Response to Inquiries/Complaints. A student loan servicer must acknowledge receipt of a written inquiry or complaint from a student loan borrower or the authorized representative of a student loan borrower within 10 days after receiving the inquiry or complaint.