HB 2170 Summary

• Allows judgment creditors to include accrued attorney fees (including garnishment fees) and costs in garnishment applications and writs when allowed by judgment or contract.

• Permits prevailing parties in garnishment objection hearings to be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs, with such fees not charged to judgment debtors unless they objected solely for delay or harassment purposes.

• Updates pronouns and language throughout garnishment statutes to use gender-neutral terminology (e.g., "the judgment creditor's" instead of "his").

• Requires judgment creditors to report quarterly to garnishees and debtors on payment status and amounts, including interest, attorney fees, and costs accrued during each period.

• Clarifies that garnishee fees for preparing earnings statements are capped at $5 per pay period, with unpaid fees charged to the judgment creditor rather than the judgment debtor.