Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] amends the Code of Civil Procedure regarding garnishment procedures in Louisiana. The bill introduces new requirements for the notice served to garnishees, mandating that it includes a boldface warning about the potential personal liability for the entire amount owed by the judgment debtor if the garnishee fails to respond to interrogatories within thirty days. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a judgment is rendered against a garnishee due to their failure to appear after proper service, they will have thirty days to file a motion for a new trial, which must include an affidavit affirming the necessary facts to support their case.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that at any new trial granted, the burden of proof lies with the garnishee to demonstrate that they had no property or indebtedness to the judgment debtor during the garnishment proceedings. It also ensures that the court will award costs and reasonable attorney fees against the garnishee for the motion, including additional fees incurred by the judgment creditor due to the garnishee's failure to respond initially. This legislation is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.