### §1735f–7. Exemption from State usury laws; applicability

(a) The provisions of the constitution of any State expressly limiting the rate or amount of interest, discount points, or other charges which may be charged, taken, received, or reserved by lenders and the provisions of any State law expressly limiting the rate or amount of interest, discount points, or other charges which may be charged, taken, received, or reserved shall not apply to any loan, mortgage, or advance which is insured under subchapter I or II of this chapter.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall apply to loans, mortgages, or advances made or executed in any State until the effective date (after December 21, 1979) of a provision of law of that State limiting the rate or amount of interest, discount points, or other charges on any such loan, mortgage, or advance.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title V, §529, as added Pub. L. 96–153, title III, §308, Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1113.)

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Choice of Highest Applicable Interest Rate

In any case in which one or more provisions of, or amendments made by, title V of Pub. L. 96–221 [enacting sections 86a, 1730g, 1735f–7a, 1785(g), and 1831d of this title and section 687(i) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 86a, 1730g, and 1735f–7 of this title], this section, or any other provisions of law, including section 85 of this title, apply with respect to the same loan, mortgage, credit sale, or advance, such loan, mortgage, credit sale, or advance may be made at the highest applicable rate, see section 528 of Pub. L. 96–221, set out as a note under section 1735f–7a of this title.

#### State Constitutions or Laws Limiting Interest, Discount Points, or Other Charges; Exemption Until Close of March 31, 1980

Pub. L. 96–161, title I, §105, Dec. 28, 1979, 93 Stat. 1234, as amended by Pub. L. 96–221, title V, §529, Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 168, provided that (a)(1) the provisions of the constitution or law of any State expressly limiting the rate or amount of interest, discount points, or other charges which could be charged, taken, received, or reserved were not to apply to any loan, mortgage, or advance which was secured by a first lien on residential real property or by a first lien on stock in a residential cooperative housing corporation where the loan, mortgage, or advance was used to finance the acquisition of such stock; made after Dec. 28, 1979; and described in section 1735f–5(b) of this title, except that the limitation described in section 1735f–5(b)(1) of this title that the property must be designed principally for the occupancy of from one to four families was not to apply, the requirement contained in section 1735f(5)(b)(1) of this title that the loan be secured by residential real property was not to apply to a loan secured by stock in a residential cooperative housing corporation, and for the purpose of this section, the term "lender" in section 1735f–5(b)(2)(A) of this title was also to be deemed to include any lender approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for participation in any mortgage insurance program under this chapter; (2) [Repealed by Pub. L. 96–221, title V, §529, Mar. 31, 1980, 94 Stat. 168, eff. at the close of Mar. 31, 1980.]; that (b) the provisions of subsection (a)(1) were to apply to loans, mortgages, and advances made in any State unless and until the State adopted a provision of law (prior to the close of March 31, 1980) limiting the rate or amount of interest, discount points, or other charges on any such loan, mortgage, or advance, except that at any time after Dec. 28, 1979, any State could adopt a provision of law placing limitations on discount points or such other charges on any such loan, mortgage, or advance; that (c) the Federal Home Loan Bank Board was authorized to issue rules and regulations and to publish interpretations governing the implementation of this section; that (d) the provisions of subsection (a)(1) expired at the close of March 31, 1980, except that such provisions were to continue to apply to any loan, mortgage, or advance described in subsection (a)(1) for the duration of such loan, mortgage, or advance if made prior to such expiration or if made during the two-year period beginning on Dec. 28, 1979, pursuant to a commitment issued prior to such expiration, and that (e) for the purpose of this Act [Pub. L. 96–161] and any amendment made by this Act [see Tables for classification of Pub. L. 96–161], the term "State" included the several States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, and the Virgin Islands.