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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB197 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.

Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Greg Walker
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
Senate Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact details of the information that employers are required to provide.

Changes to Indiana's Garnishment Rules

This bill amends Indiana's trade regulation laws by changing garnishment requirements and increasing personal property exemptions in bankruptcy.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a garnishment order or attachment order to provide certain information to the employer when deducting from an employee's disposable earnings.
  • Increases the exemption for tangible personal property, including choses in action, deposit accounts, and cash (excluding debts owing and income owing), in bankruptcy from $300 to $1,500.
  • Removes provisions that allow the Department of Financial Institutions to set exemption amounts for bankruptcy proceedings.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employers who have employees with garnishment orders.
  • People filing for bankruptcy whose personal property is worth up to $1,500.

Terms To Know

garnishment
When a court order requires an employer to take money from an employee's paycheck to pay off debts.
bankruptcy
A legal process where people or businesses can get relief from overwhelming debt.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what information employers must provide.
  • It is unclear how the changes will affect current bankruptcy cases.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB0197.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Kyle Walker

Filed

Plain English: The amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding wage garnishments.

  • Modifies provisions related to wage garnishments in the Indiana Code.
  • The specific details of how the wage garnishment rules will be changed are not provided in the given text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

  2. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Referred to the House

  3. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 104: yeas 32, nays 13

  4. 2026-01-27 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative Zimmerman

  5. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Senator Ford J.D. added as coauthor

  6. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Senator Niemeyer added as coauthor

  7. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  8. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  9. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senator Qaddoura added as coauthor

  10. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senator Randolph added as coauthor

  11. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Senator Walker K added as second author

  12. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Senator Alting added as coauthor

  13. 2026-01-06 Senate

    Authored by Senator Walker G

  14. 2026-01-06 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.
Garnishment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.

Garnishment.

Amends the limitation on garnishment provided in the Uniform Consumer Credit Code. Requires a garnishment order or attachment order that requires an employer to make deductions from a debtor's disposable earnings to provide certain information to the employer. Provides that tangible personal property, including choses in action, deposit accounts, and cash (but excluding debts owing and income owing), of $1,500 is exempt from bankruptcy (current law is $300). Removes provisions in code requiring the department of financial institutions to adopt rules that establish or adjust exemption amounts for purposes of bankruptcy proceedings.