Bill > HB1870

This bill modifies provisions related to garnishments, which is a legal process where a court orders a third party, like a bank, to seize money or property from a debtor to pay off a debt. Key changes include expanding the types of property exempt from garnishment, such as increasing the value limits for household furnishings, jewelry, and vehicles, and allowing unused vehicle exemption amounts to be applied to other assets. It also introduces a new process for garnishing bank accounts, requiring specific information on garnishment orders, establishing timelines for financial institutions to respond, and outlining procedures for debtors to claim exemptions or object to garnishments, including provisions for joint accounts and protections for financial institutions acting in good faith. Additionally, the bill clarifies that statements made during a judgment debtor examination, where a debtor is questioned about their ability to pay a debt, are protected by full use and derivative use immunity, meaning they cannot be used against the debtor in criminal cases except for perjury. Finally, it mandates that certain dollar amounts related to exemptions will be adjusted every three years to account for inflation, with the first adjustment scheduled for April 1, 2029.