Payday lending laws are coming into sharper focus as the Virginia General Assembly session moves to an end.

The House Labor and Commerce Committee today is expected to take up the Senate's version of a bill to crack down on payday lending.

And Gov. Timothy M. Kaine may personally join the fight over a clampdown on high-cost, instant loans.

Kaine said yesterday he won't rule out introducing his own measure if it appears the General Assembly will not send him a bill.

The House and Senate have different ideas about how to overhaul payday lending. The House favors limiting loans to five per year, with only one at a time. The Senate prefers a one-at-a-time approach.