Action Alert
Earned Wage Access Needs Guardrails — Not to Become Another Predatory Lender

Updated Notice: This action alert is now expired. Thank you for helping us take action. 

This bill concerns Earned Wage Access, which is when people use a company’s app/service to get a portion of their paycheck sooner (a paycheck cash advance). This bill has been placed on the General State Calendar, which means it can be voted out and move forward. Help us STOP this bill in its tracks! It is missing essential guardrails, and would make Texans vulnerable to abuse by Earned Wage Access companies.

Oppose
HB 2043
Urgent action needed. Please help us take action by
The Basics

HB 2043 is problematic because it would:

  • Open a new predatory lending loophole in Texas for products that look a lot like payday loans.
  • Allow Earned Wage Access companies to squeeze unlimited fees from Texans living paycheck to paycheck, with no meaningful consumer protections.
  • Not protect people’s paychecks, not require these companies to pay people on time, and not require these companies to pay people in the right amount.
  • Take money out of local Texas economies by diverting people’s wages to online fintech accounts based outside our state.
Phone/Email Opportunities

Please add any personal things that you would like to say about the bill to any Texas House Member before they vote. More information is below:

You can Call or Email Any Member of the Texas House of Representatives.
Go to the Texas House website here (and contact any member at their Capitol phone number) or find your specific representative here.


Phone Call Wording
Hello, may I please speak with a staff member for Representative (their last name) about House Bill 2043 concerning earned wage access? Hi, my name is (your name). I am a (concerned person/earned wage access app user/person on a limited budget) from (your city), Texas. I’m asking you to please vote against House Bill 2043. (explain why)


Sample Talking Points

  • Most people using earned wage apps are low-income and make an annual salary of less than $50,000. Don't pass HB 2043, which would make it harder for struggling families to make ends meet.
  • We need earned wage access products to be treated like a loan. That’s why I oppose HB 2043. Without Texas lending protections, this can create financial hardship for workers.
  • Some earned wage access companies take full control of people’s paychecks, which is really concerning. I oppose HB 2043 because it doesn’t protect people’s wages from these companies.
  • Earned wage access is supposed to help workers, not hurt them. I oppose HB 2043 because it keeps people in debt and makes it harder for people to make ends meet.
  • Texas already has a predatory payday lending market. HB 2043 enables yet another predatory loan targeting people barely making ends meet. I oppose HB 2043.
Social Media Opportunities

Please use any of these five social media posts below:

  1. Texans are turning to earned wage access apps, but these apps could become just like predatory payday loans. Help us STOP House Bill 2043 #txlege
  2. We must protect Texans' financial well-being & regulate cash advance products as loans. I OPPOSE HB 2043 because it doesn’t have needed protections in place #txlege
  3. HB 2043 CREATES a loophole for #earnedwageaccess apps to squeeze unlimited fees from Texans living paycheck to paycheck. Join me in calling Texas State Reps to vote NO on HB 2043.
  4. URGENT: HB 2043 could let #earnedwageaccess apps continue to squeeze unlimited fees from Texans without important consumer protections in place. Tell your Rep to vote NO on #HB2043 #txlege
  5. #HB2043 is a bad bill – it would let earned wage access apps keep functioning like predatory payday loans with NO safeguards in place for Texans. I oppose HB2043! 
Resources

Please click here for a fact sheet with more information.

Data Privacy & Financial Technology