HB3002 - Relating to requiring debt collectors to provide certain disclosures to consumers.

  89R10091 SCR-D     By: Simmons H.B. No. 3002       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring debt collectors to provide certain   disclosures to consumers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 392, Finance Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER D-1.   REQUIRED CONSUMER DISCLOSURES           Sec.   392.351.     DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "consumer   reporting agency" and "consumer report" have the meanings assigned   by Section 20.01, Business & Commerce Code.           Sec.   392.352.     REQUIRED CONSUMER DISCLOSURES FOR WRITTEN   COMMUNICATIONS BY DEBT COLLECTORS. (a)   A debt collector shall   include with any written communication with a consumer relating to   debt collection a written notice disclosing to the consumer:                 (1)     a summary of the consumer's rights, protections,   and remedies under:                       (A)     the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15   U.S.C. Section 1692 et seq.), including:                             (i)     the consumer's right to request debt   validation;                             (ii)     the consumer's right to request in   writing that the debt collector cease further communication with   the consumer; and                             (iii)     restrictions governing a debt   collector's ability to contact a consumer concerning a debt; and                       (B)     this chapter, including the prohibited debt   collection methods under Subchapter D; and                 (2)     whether the creditor to whom the consumer debt is   owed is amenable to entering into a settlement agreement with the   consumer under which the consumer agrees to pay all or part of the   debt and the creditor agrees to cease collection efforts and take   necessary action to have a consumer reporting agency remove   negative information regarding the debt from the consumer's   consumer report.           (b)     The attorney general may make available on the attorney   general's Internet website a notice that:                 (1)  complies with Subsection (a); and                 (2)     may be downloaded or copied by a debt collector for   inclusion with any written communications sent by the debt   collector to a consumer.           Sec.   392.353.     REQUIRED DISCLOSURE OF INTERNET LINK IN   ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS BY DEBT COLLECTORS. A debt collector   that sends an electronic communication to a consumer in an attempt   to collect a debt shall include with the communication a link to the   attorney general's Internet website page about consumers' debt   collection rights.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.