WisconsinProposal would keep wage garnishments active until debts are paid
This failed proposal would keep wage garnishments in place until debts are paid and require creditors to send workers regular notices about their rights.
What it does
A wage garnishment would stay in place until the debt is paid or a court ends it. The creditor would send the worker notices every 13 weeks, for up to five years.
When support or restitution orders also take money from a worker’s wages, those payments would come first, and the payer would calculate what remains for other creditors.
If the payer has a different address for the worker, it would notify the creditor, who must send required garnishment papers to that address.
Argument forCreditors could keep collecting an unpaid judgment without restarting the wage garnishment every 13 weeks.
Argument againstWorkers could have wages withheld for up to five years, and repeated notices may be difficult to track while a garnishment continues.
More detail
A wage garnishment would stay in effect until the debt is paid or a court ends it. This applies to earnings garnishments, including those for people who owe court-ordered victim restitution. A court may end the garnishment sooner. The creditor must send the first notice by the payday of the first affected pay period, then every 13 weeks. Notices stop when the debt is paid, a court ends the garnishment, or five years pass after it takes effect, whichever comes first.
The person or business paying the debtor’s wages would give priority to certain court-ordered support and restitution payments when distributing garnished wages. These rules apply when a debtor’s earnings are also assigned for support or maintenance, or garnished to pay court-ordered restitution. Support assignments take priority over ordinary garnishments and restitution garnishments. Restitution garnishments take priority over ordinary garnishments. Limits apply to the amount left for other creditors, and the payer must notify the creditor and court in certain cases. The payer applies these rules when distributing earnings during an active garnishment.
The person or business paying the debtor’s wages would tell the creditor if its records show a different address, and the creditor would send required papers there. This applies when the payer’s records show an address for the debtor that differs from the address on the garnishment form. The creditor must use one of the listed methods to send the required papers. The payer must notify the creditor in writing within seven business days after receiving the garnishment form.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- Apr 6Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-3-2026Major
- Apr 2Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026To Governor
- Mar 19Report correctly enrolledMinor
- Mar 17Action ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17Assembly Amendment 1 concurred in
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 23Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 19Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 19Read a third time and concurred in as amendedPassed House
- Feb 19Rules suspended
- Feb 19Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 19Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Feb 19Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 19Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take upMajor
- Feb 11Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative TuslerMinor
- Jan 13Placed on calendar 1-15-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 12Read first time and referred to committee on RulesMinor
- 2025
- Oct 14Received from SenateMinor
- Oct 14Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 14Read a third time and passedPassed Senate
- Oct 14Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Oct 14Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Oct 14Senate Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Oct 14Read a second timeMinor
- Oct 13Placed on calendar 10-14-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Sep 17Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 17Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3Minor
- Sep 17Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 5, Noes 3Major
- Sep 17Executive action taken
- Sep 5Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator HuttonMinor
- Sep 3Public hearing held
- May 30Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public SafetyMinor
- May 30Introduced by Senators Hutton and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Tusler, Dittrich, Gundrum, Kaufert, Kitchens, Knodl, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Steffen and WichgersIntroduced
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