SB301Introduced in the Senate
Exemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance, certain benefit payments.
Introduced by Schuyler VanValkenburg, District 16
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Exemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance; certain benefit payments; procedure for financial institutions. Requires certain financial institutions to automatically exempt from garnishment (i) a minimum protected account balance, defined in the bill as the combined total of not more than $1,000 in a judgment debtor's account or across multiple accounts in the same financial institution, and (ii) a protected amount of certain benefit payments, defined in the bill, that have been deposited into the account via direct deposit or electronic deposit within the two months immediately preceding the day before a financial institution commences an account review. The bill describes an account review as a process of examining an account of a judgment conducted by a financial institution upon such financial institution's receipt of a garnishment summons to determine if any eligible benefit payments have been deposited within the applicable time period and, if so, to calculate the total sum of such benefit payments and establish the total as a protected amount that shall be automatically exempt from garnishment. The bill provides that such procedure to automatically exempt such funds shall not apply if the debt arises from a child support or spousal support obligation or if an exemption is otherwise prohibited by law.The bill further provides that a judgment debtor is not required to claim nor request a hearing for such automatic exemptions. Finally, the bill makes updates to the relevant provisions governing garnishment proceedings, notices to the garnishee and judgment debtor, and the form of a garnishment summons consistent with the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to HB 601.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0638)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Passed House (81-Y 15-N 0-A) · February 23, 2026
81
Yes
15
No
3
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105000D
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Rereferred from Commerce and Labor to Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
Senate committee offered
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (8-Y 6-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice (18-Y 4-N)
Read second time
Read third time
Passed House (81-Y 15-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB301ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 638 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0638)
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