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Oregon enacts new consumer finance protections related to wage garnishment
Recently, the Governor of Oregon enacted bill SB 1595 (the “Act”) that amended Oregon’s statutes to provide greater consumer protection rights for Oregonians working to pay back their debts. The Act was mostly comprised of new rights for wage garnishments. Section 10, which updated ORS 18.785, amended what a financial institution must do if it receives a writ of garnishment for a debtor, including checking for federal benefits and analyzing an account holder’s base protected account balance, among other provisions. Additionally, the Act protected $2,500 from a person’s bank account to help them meet basic needs. The law went into effect on April 4.
New York enacts protections for consumers with medical debt
On November 23, the New York governor signed S6522A/A7363A to prohibit certain hospitals and healthcare providers from placing liens on the primary residences of individuals with unpaid medical debts or garnishing wages to collect on unpaid bills or satisfy judgments arising from a medical debt lawsuit. “No one should face the threat of losing their home or falling into further debt after seeking medical care,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in an announcement. “I’m proud to sign legislation today that will end this harmful and predatory collection practice to help protect New Yorkers from these unfair penalties. The bill is effective immediately.