The bill amends Washington state law regarding the garnishment of earnings, specifically increasing the exemption amounts for judgments arising from medical debt. Under the new provisions, individuals facing garnishment due to medical debt will be exempt from garnishment for the greater of either sixty times the state minimum hourly wage or eighty percent of their disposable earnings. This is a significant change from previous exemptions for consumer debt, which did not include medical debt and were set at thirty-five times the state minimum hourly wage or eighty percent of disposable earnings. The bill also modifies the writ of garnishment language to require a conspicuous statement indicating when the garnishment is based on medical debt, thereby enhancing financial protection for individuals burdened by such debts.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions for exemption claims related to garnished earnings, specifically addressing medical debt in comparison to other consumer debts. It inserts language that allows individuals to claim maximum exemptions for earnings garnished due to medical debt, while also clarifying that exemptions for private student loan debt and consumer debt are excluded if the writ is not related to them. The bill outlines procedural requirements for judgment creditors or plaintiffs regarding the mailing or serving of notices or writs, mandating the inclusion of specific dollar amounts for exemption claims. Overall, the bill aims to provide clearer guidelines for exemption claims in garnishment cases, particularly emphasizing the treatment of medical debt.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 6.27.150, 6.15.010, 6.27.140