The Tribal Installment Loans Act (TILA) is a federal law that was passed in 2014. The law was designed to provide greater legal clarity and regulatory certainty to tribal lenders that offer installment loans to consumers.

Prior to the passage of TILA, many tribal lenders were operating in a legal grey area, as the application of federal and state consumer protection laws to tribal lending was unclear. Some states argued that tribal lenders were not exempt from state lending laws, while tribal lenders argued that they were immune from state regulation due to their status as sovereign entities.

The passage of TILA helped to resolve some of these issues by providing clear guidelines for the regulation of tribal lending. Under the law, tribal lenders are required to comply with certain consumer protection requirements, such as disclosing the terms and conditions of loans to borrowers and ensuring that loans are affordable based on a borrower’s income and expenses.

TILA also established the National Native American Financial Services Association (NNAFSA) as a self-regulatory organization for tribal lenders. NNAFSA sets standards for tribal lending practices and provides oversight and enforcement of these standards.

Overall, the Tribal Installment Loans Act has helped to provide greater clarity and legal certainty for tribal lenders and borrowers. It has also helped to promote responsible lending practices and protect consumers from predatory lending practices.