This bill amends the Revised Judicature Act of 1961 by introducing new definitions and provisions related to garnishment of wages. It defines "garnishable earnings" as an individual's gross wages minus legally required deductions. The bill also clarifies that the act and related statutes concerning exemptions from execution and the manner of levying on property apply to claims by attachment and garnishment. Additionally, it specifies that in garnishment proceedings involving debts owed to a principal defendant for the sale of milk or cream produced on their farm, the garnishee's liability is limited to 40% of the owed amount.

Furthermore, the bill establishes exemptions from garnishment for certain types of income, including means-tested public assistance benefits, unemployment compensation, federal and state earned income tax credits, disability benefits, and worker's disability compensation. It also sets specific limits on the amount of a debtor's gross wages that can be garnished, stipulating that for weekly earnings up to $1,925, the lesser of 20% of garnishable earnings or the amount exceeding 30 times the federal minimum wage is subject to garnishment. For earnings exceeding $1,925, 30% of the garnishable earnings can be garnished.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 600.4031