Montana House urges federal action to curb 'trigger leads' from mortgage credit reports

The Montana House unanimously recommended passage of House Joint Resolution 33, a message to the U.S. Congress urging action on unsolicited mortgage marketing known as "trigger leads."

Representative Falk, who introduced the resolution, described the problem on the floor: when lenders order a residential mortgage credit report (RMCR) during a home loan application, it can generate an immediate flood of unsolicited texts, calls and emails from large, often out-of-state lenders. "We think this is something that ought to be outlawed," Falk said, calling trigger leads a "public nuisance" and asking the federal government to prohibit them or regulate them more strictly.

Representative Bridal, who spoke in support, described personal experience after buying a home and receiving numerous misleading leads that used the consumer's lender's name. The motion to recommend passage was approved; the clerk recorded 100 representatives voting aye.

HJ33 is a nonbinding message to Congress asking federal regulators or lawmakers to restrict or ban the practice of selling or using RMCR-triggered marketing leads. The resolution does not itself change state law; it is a formal statement of the Montana legislature's position to federal authorities.