According to fair lending laws, which of the following may loan applicants be asked to disclose for HMDA data collection purposes?

Under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), financial institutions are required to collect and report specific demographic information about loan applicants to ensure compliance with fair lending laws. One of the key components of this data collection is the monitoring of potential discrimination in lending practices.

One of the aspects that loan applicants are asked to disclose is their race, which is vital for assessing whether lending practices are equitable across different demographics. The collection of race data allows regulators to analyze trends in loan approvals and denials, helping to identify any disparities that may exist based on race. This information plays an essential role in the overall goal of eliminating discrimination in lending and promoting fair access to mortgage credit.

Other options such as inquiries about religion, employment plans after having children, or intentions regarding family size are not relevant to the objectives of fair lending laws or HMDA. These questions do not contribute to assessing equity in lending practices and could raise concerns regarding privacy and discrimination if they were included in required disclosures. Thus, the correct answer focuses on race as a crucial piece of information for HMDA data collection purposes.