ATLANTA — New legislation at the State Capitol could place new restrictions on title pawn companies. The companies offer up immediate cash and then charge sky-high interest rates on the loans.

First Cash Financial Services Inc. agreed to buy Cash America International Inc. for about $994 million in stock in a deal to bring together two of the largest retail pawn shop operators in the U.S.

The title pawn industry in Georgia is hard to ignore. It seems everywhere you look there are signs for lenders offering people fast cash in exchange for their vehicle’s title. “In rural communities, ...