The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1337, aims to provide temporary relief for individuals engaged in problem gambling programs by mandating a suspension of debt collection activities. Effective January 1, 2026, if a debtor informs a creditor of their participation in a problem gambling program, the creditor is required to halt all collection activities related to the debtor's unsecured debts for a period of thirty calendar days. This includes any legal actions to collect the debt. After the thirty-day suspension, creditors may resume collection efforts but must notify the debtor of the recommencement.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that any applicable statute of limitations on the creditor's claim will be paused during the thirty-day suspension period. The bill introduces new definitions for terms such as "claim," "creditor," "collection activities," "debt," "debtor," and "problem gambling program" to clarify the scope of the legislation. Overall, the bill seeks to support individuals in recovery from problem gambling by providing them with a temporary reprieve from debt collection pressures.