On January 6, AFSA’s State Government Affairs department published its 2020 State Legislative Preview and 2019 Review white paper. Published monthly, AFSA’s state white papers typically provide a snapshot in time covering a single-issue area; however, the 2020 preview/2019 review provides a broad look at activity affecting AFSA members’ priority issues in the legislative session coming to an end, with a sample of what members can expect from the states over the next year. For a full review of the 2019 session, members can check out the white paper in the State Resources section of AFSA’s website.

AFSA’s federal government affairs team continued to be highly effective in advocating for the protection of consumer credit and choice in 2019. Below are just a few of the 2019 federal successes.

In this episode of the AFSA Extra Credit Podcast, we’re speaking with Frank Salinger, a longtime consultant for and former staff member of AFSA. Frank really needs no introduction – he’s been an integral part of protecting access to consumer credit since he joined the industry in the late 1970’s. We talk about what he’s working on with AFSA now and he gives his opinion on what AFSA members need to be focusing on right now.

TRH Duke & Duchess of Sussex:

Recently, the Department of Defense (DoD) sent a response to 23 Members of Congress who sent a bipartisan letter urging the repeal of Question and Answer #2 of the December 2017 Military Lending Act (MLA) interpretive guidance. In its letter, the DoD writes that Q&A #2 “does not provide an unlimited exception for financing additional credit for purposes not expressly related to the item being purchased.”

AFSA Business Partners are ready and excited to meet you in the Expo, the main hub of the conference. Exchange best practices, access new technologies and meet friends in one of the country’s finest resorts at La Quinta. I’m honored to serve as the 2020 Independents Section Chairman and I hope to see you in a few short months.

How are the changing automotive and financial ecosystems transforming auto finance today and in the future?

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recently ratified a resolution calling on state policymakers to put in place and enforce fundamental consumer protection rules on “debt settlement companies.” You can review the resolution here.

The American Financial Services Association today announced three new members to serve on its Board of Directors: