This legislation aims to protect individuals from excessive garnishment while ensuring that obligations like state tax debts can still be enforced. The bill defines 'disposable earnings' and clarifies what constitutes garnishment, thereby creating a more predictable legal framework around wage deductions. By imposing a cap on the garnishable amount, the bill seeks to balance the state's ability to collect debts with the need to maintain workers' financial stability.
Summary
House Bill 2284 addresses the regulations governing wage garnishment in the state of Virginia, specifically in relation to state tax debts. The bill proposes amendments to ยง 34-29 of the Code of Virginia, detailing the maximum allowable deductions from an individual's disposable earnings for garnishment. Notably, the bill sets a cap of 25% of disposable earnings that can be garnished for debts such as state taxes, while providing certain exemptions for child support and alimony obligations, which could be subject to higher garnishment rates under specific conditions.
Contention
While the focus of the bill is largely on providing protections for workers' take-home pay, there may be concerns regarding the implications of capping garnishments. Some arguments may emerge about whether these changes could hinder the state's ability to efficiently collect on outstanding tax debts. Additionally, there may be discussions regarding the impact on families dependent on higher garnishment rates for support payments, particularly in cases where both tax debts and child support obligations occur concurrently. Stakeholders may also debate how these changes fit into broader discussions about wage rights and consumer protection laws.