Assembly Bill 296 aims to amend existing laws regarding the garnishment of earnings for debtors in Wisconsin by eliminating the current 13-week limit on such garnishments. Under the proposed legislation, creditors will be able to garnish a debtor's earnings for an indefinite period until the judgment is satisfied or the garnishment is terminated by the court. The bill also introduces new provisions that prioritize court-ordered garnishments for restitution in criminal matters over other garnishments, while still maintaining the priority of family law assignments. Additionally, it requires creditors to provide more frequent notices to debtors when garnishments extend beyond the initial 13-week period.

The bill includes several amendments and repeals to existing statutes, such as the repeal of sections 812.40, 812.405, and 812.42 (2) (b), and the renumbering and amendment of section 812.39 (2). It also creates new sections, including 812.35 (7), 812.39 (2) (b), 812.39 (2m), and 812.395, which outline the responsibilities of garnishees and creditors in the garnishment process. For instance, garnishees will be required to notify creditors if a debtor's address differs from their records, and creditors must send exemption notices to debtors at specified intervals during the garnishment period. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the garnishment process while ensuring that debtors are adequately informed of their rights and obligations.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 812.33(1), 812.33, 812.35(5), 812.35, 812.35(6), 812.38(2), 812.38, 812.39(1), 812.39, 812.40, 812.405, 812.42(2)(b), 812.42, 812.44(3), 812.44