Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4479

LRB104 17943 SPS 31380 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4479

Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Anne Stava

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

815 ILCS 505/MMMM new

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person shall not knowingly mail or send or cause to be mailed or sent a letter or postcard to a recipient in the State for the purpose of soliciting or inducing the recipient to borrow money, if the letter or postcard: (1) contains language that states or implies that any response by a consumer is required; or (2) resembles a check or tax document published and mailed by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Revenue. Provides that any letter or postcard mailed or sent to a recipient in the State for the purpose of soliciting or inducing the recipient to borrow money shall be sent in a white envelope or postcard and include specified disclosures. Provides that a violation of the provisions constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by adding Section MMMM as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/MMMM new)

Sec. MMMM. Loan solicitation disclosure.

(a) A person shall not knowingly mail or send or cause to be mailed or sent a letter or postcard to a recipient in this State for the purpose of soliciting or inducing the recipient to borrow money, if the letter or postcard:

(1) contains language that states or implies that any response by a consumer is required, imminently or otherwise, including, but not limited to, the use of the terms "urgent", "action required", "materials inspected", "time sensitive", or "important account information enclosed"; or

(2) resembles a check or tax document published and mailed by the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Revenue.

(b) Any letter or postcard mailed or sent to a recipient in this State for the purpose of soliciting or inducing the recipient to borrow money shall be sent in a white envelope or postcard and include a disclosure stating "THIS IS A LOAN SOLICITATION". The letter or postcard shall also include the name and address of the person or entity who would be the creditor of the loan. All disclosures and disclaimers appearing on a letter or postcard shall be conspicuously located at the top of the letter or postcard and on the exterior of the letter's envelope, be easily readable in clear and unambiguous language, and be printed in at least 14-point bold-face font in a black-outlined box.

(c) A violation of this Section constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.