Bill
Bill > SB300
summary
Introduced
05/30/2025
05/30/2025
In Committee
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Crossed Over
10/14/2025
10/14/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill eliminates the 13-week limit imposed on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors. Under current law, a creditor may file a garnishment notice with a court and pay a fee to a garnishee for the purpose of collecting an unsatisfied judgment for money damages from earnings owed to the debtor by the garnishee. Current law limits the number of weeks in which the earnings of a debtor, other than a debtor who is an employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state, may be garnisheed to 13 weeks. Under current law, a court-ordered assignment of a debtor[s earnings for support or maintenance in a family law matter takes priority over an earnings garnishment. The bill provides that a court-ordered earnings garnishment to satisfy an order for restitution in a criminal matter takes priority over other LRB-3019/1 KRP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 300 earnings garnishments but does not have priority over an assignment in a family law matter. The bill makes various other changes, including changes to account for the increased length of time a garnishment may continue. For example, the bill requires a creditor to provide additional notices to a debtor when a garnishment extends beyond a 13-week period.
AI Summary
This bill eliminates the existing 13-week limit on earnings garnishment for most debtors, allowing creditors to continue garnishing a debtor's wages until a judgment is fully satisfied. The bill introduces several key changes to the garnishment process, including requiring creditors to provide additional notices to debtors when a garnishment extends beyond the original 13-week period. Specifically, the creditor must serve the debtor with a new earnings garnishment form every 13 weeks and send an updated exemption notice and related forms every 180 days. The bill also establishes priority rules for different types of garnishments, with court-ordered support payments taking precedence over other garnishments, and restitution orders for criminal cases being given a secondary priority. Additionally, the bill modifies the percentage of disposable earnings that can be garnished, taking into account existing court-ordered assignments and restitution orders. For example, if a debtor has support payments assigned, the total garnishment cannot exceed 25% of disposable earnings, and if there is a restitution order, the total garnishment is limited to 20% of disposable earnings. The bill aims to provide more flexibility in debt collection while still protecting debtors from excessive wage garnishment.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (15)
Rob Hutton (R)*,
Van Wanggaard (R)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Rick Gundrum (R),
Dean Kaufert (R),
Joel Kitchens (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Paul Melotik (R),
Dave Murphy (R),
Jerry O'Connor (R),
Jim Piwowarczyk (R),
David Steffen (R),
Ron Tusler (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Amendment 1 adopted (on 02/23/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb300 |
| Assembly Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB300-AA1.pdf |
| Analysis - LC Amendment Memo | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/lcamendmentmemos/2025/REG/SB300.pdf |
| SB300 ROCP for Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety On 9/17/2025 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/judiciary_and_public_safety/1942389.pdf |
| Senate Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB300-SA1.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB300.pdf |
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