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Taylor Gess

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Taylor focuses her practice on providing regulatory advice on matters related to federal and state consumer protection, consumer finance, and payments laws, including those that apply to payment cards, lines of credit, installment loans, electronic payments, online banking, buy-now-pay-later transactions, retail installment contracts, rental-purchase transactions, and small business loans.

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In this crossover episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and Payments Pros, Chris Willis, Jason Cover, and Taylor Gess expand on the Point-of-Sale Finance Series to focus on leases and rent-to-own (RTO) models. This conversation spotlights the legal frameworks and best practices for structuring these models and integrating alternative financial options into point-of-sale offerings for goods and services. They also discuss market trends driving the creation of innovative products that are becoming increasingly popular, including virtual RTOs, solar panel leasing, and short-term renewable transactions for ride-share programs.

An initiative designed to add significant regulatory obligations to the home improvement and solar financing industries is progressing through the California legislature. Senate Bill 784 (SB 784) passed the California Senate last month and the California Assembly is quickly moving a slightly amended version of the bill through committees in July. If enacted, SB 784 would take effect on January 1, 2026.

On July 8, a panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a significant decision in the case of Custom Communications, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The panel vacated the FTC’s amended Negative Option Rule aka the “click-to cancel” rule, citing procedural deficiencies in the rulemaking process. Specifically, the panel found that the FTC failed to conduct a required preliminary regulatory analysis, which deprived stakeholders of the opportunity to comment on alternatives and engage with the FTC’s cost-benefit analysis.

In this crossover episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and Payments Pros, Chris Willis, Jason Cover, and Taylor Gess continue the Point-of-Sale Finance Series to discuss licensed lending and bank model lending programs. This conversation dives into the benefits, challenges, and regulatory landscapes that shape these popular lending models for financial institutions and fintechs. Consumer finance providers will gain valuable insights on structuring successful lending partnerships in today’s complex environment.

In this crossover episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and Payments Pros, Chris Willis, Jason Cover, and Taylor Gess unravel the often-confused distinctions between loans and credit sales in the first installment of our Point-of-Sale Finance Series. This episode sheds light on the regulatory nuances that impact the delivery of financial products. From the historical backdrop of Retail Installment Sales Acts to the modern-day challenges of terminology, the conversation offers a comprehensive overview of the pros and cons of retail installment contracts and direct loans. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to consumer finance, this discussion will enhance your understanding of these pivotal financial structures.

On March 20, the Arkansas governor signed into law Arkansas Act 347, known as the Earned Wage Access Services Act. Sponsored by Representative David Ray (R) and Senator Ben Gilmore (R), this legislation aims to regulate earned wage access (EWA) providers. Notably, “providers” is defined to include a person engaged in the business of offering earned wage access, but not an employer that advances a portion of earned wages directly to employees or independent contractors.

The Utah Legislature has passed H.B. 279, known as the Earned Wage Access Services Act. Sponsored by Representative A. Cory Maloy (R) and Senator Chris H. Wilson (R), this legislation aims to regulate earned wage access (EWA) providers. Notably, “providers” is defined to include a person engaged in the business of offering earned wage access, but not an employer that advances a portion of earned wages directly to employees or independent contractors. If signed by the Governor, the Act will take effect on May 7, 2025.

On January 8, Senate Bill No. 1252 (SB 1252) was introduced to the Virginia General Assembly, aiming to amend and reenact sections of the Code of Virginia related to the application of usury rates. Just two weeks ago, the bill was passed by both the House and Senate. Opponents of the bill contend that the language and effect is very unclear, but that broad language and stringent provisions could stifle innovation and ultimately harm consumers by limiting their access to credit.

On January 10, the Alaska Legislature introduced Senate Bill 39 that aims to amend the state’s Small Loan Act. This proposed legislation seeks to implement significant changes, including the introduction of a predominant economic interest test, the repeal of Alaska’s payday loan law, and amending the maximum interest rate that can be charged on loans up to $25,000.

Earlier this week, we discussed the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) final amendments to the Negative Option Rule, now retitled the Rule Concerning Recurring Subscriptions and Other Negative Option Programs. These amendments, which are set to take effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register, are purportedly aimed at stopping deceptive and unfair practices in negative option marketing. However, the rule has now drawn a legal challenge.