Homeowner bills’ highlights

Key parts of the homeowner-protection bills passed by the California Legislature would:

•Prohibit lenders from “dual tracking,” or pursuing a foreclosure even though the homeowner is negotiating to modify the mortgage loan.

• Outlaw “robo-signing,” or mortgage servicers’ improper or faulty processing of foreclosure documents.

• Allow homeowners and state agencies to sue financial institutions for economic and civil damages, under limited circumstances.

•Require banks and loan servicers to provide a single representative for a borrower to work with, to prevent bureaucratic mazes.