Mortgage fraud bill gets final passage

Spokesman Brian McClung said Wednesday that Pawlenty is expected to sign it.

The bill, which the state House of Representatives approved Wednesday on a 129-3 vote, gives individuals and companies the right to sue if they have been victimized by dishonest or predatory lending practices, including inflated appraisals.

Perpetrators of mortgage fraud also could get sentenced to up to two years of jail time. If the victim is considered "vulnerable" because of age, physical condition or mental capacity, the bill would give the courts the ability to assign harsher penalties.

The same bill was approved by the Senate on April 30.

This is the second of two bills aimed at mortgage lending practices, and it has the backing of Attorney General Lori Swanson and consumer protection groups.