Senate Bill 15-283 Summary

• Repeals the definition of "earnings" in debt collection statutes and redefines it to mean compensation paid to individual employees or independent contractors for personal labor or services.

• Increases exemption limits for personal property including wearing apparel ($1,500 to $2,000), jewelry ($2,000 to $2,500), library and school books ($1,500 to $2,000), and motor vehicles or bicycles ($5,000 to $7,500, or $10,000 to $12,500 for elderly or disabled debtors).

• Expands agricultural property exemptions to explicitly include crops, dairy products, and agricultural products grown, raised, or produced by debtors engaged in agriculture as their principal occupation.

• Clarifies service of notice procedures in garnishment proceedings by establishing multiple methods including personal delivery, certified mail, regular mail with affidavit, and electronic mail if previously consented to by the judgment debtor.

• Increases homestead exemption amounts from $60,000 to $75,000 for standard homesteads and from $90,000 to $105,000 for homesteads occupied by elderly or disabled owners.