Washington SB 6105: Enacting the reproductive health access for all act.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to raising the exemption from garnishment of 1
earnings for judgments arising from medical debt; and amending RCW 2
6.27.150, 6.27.105, and 6.27.140.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 6.27.150 and 2021 c 35 s 3 are each amended to read 5
as follows:6
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) ((and (3))) through (4) 7
of this section, if the garnishee is an employer owing the defendant 8
earnings, then for each week of such earnings, an amount shall be 9
exempt from garnishment which is the greatest of the following:10
(a) Thirty-five times the federal minimum hourly wage in effect 11
at the time the earnings are payable; or12
(b) Seventy-five percent of the disposable earnings of the 13
defendant.14
(2) In the case of a garnishment based on a court order for 15
spousal maintenance, other than a mandatory wage assignment order 16
pursuant to chapter 26.18 RCW, or a mandatory assignment of 17
retirement benefits pursuant to chapter 41.50 RCW, the exemption 18
shall be fifty percent of the disposable earnings of the defendant.19
(3) In the case of a garnishment based on a judgment or other 20
order for the collection of private student loan debt, for each week 21
S-3519.1
SENATE BILL 6105
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Liias, Harris, Stanford, Alvarado, Bateman, Conway,
Hasegawa, Lovelett, Nobles, Riccelli, Saldaña, Salomon, Slatter,
Trudeau, Valdez, and Wellman
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.
p. 1 SB 6105

of such earnings, an amount shall be exempt from garnishment which is 1
the greater of the following:2
(a) Fifty times the minimum hourly wage of the highest minimum 3
wage law in the state at the time the earnings are payable; or4
(b) Eighty-five percent of the disposable earnings of the 5
defendant.6
(4)(a) In the case of a garnishment based on a judgment or other 7
order for the collection of consumer debt, except medical debt, for 8
each week of such earnings, an amount shall be exempt from 9
garnishment which is the greater of the following:10
(((a))) (i) Thirty-five times the state minimum hourly wage; or11
(((b))) (ii) Eighty percent of the disposable earnings of the 12
defendant.13
(b) In the case of a garnishment based on a judgment or other 14
order for the collection of medical debt, for each week of such 15
earnings, an amount shall be exempt from garnishment which is the 16
greater of the following:17
(i) Sixty times the state minimum hourly wage; or18
(ii) Eighty percent of the disposable earnings of the defendant.19
(5) The exemptions stated in this section shall apply whether 20
such earnings are paid, or are to be paid, weekly, monthly, or at 21
other intervals, and whether earnings are due the defendant for one 22
week, a portion thereof, or for a longer period.23
(6) Unless directed otherwise by the court, the garnishee shall 24
determine and deduct exempt amounts under this section as directed in 25
the writ of garnishment and answer, and shall pay these amounts to 26
the defendant.27
(7) No money due or earned as earnings as defined in RCW 6.27.010 28
shall be exempt from garnishment under the provisions of RCW 29
6.15.010, as now or hereafter amended.30
Sec. 2. RCW 6.27.105 and 2021 c 35 s 1 are each amended to read 31
as follows:32
(1) A writ that is issued for a continuing lien on earnings shall 33
be substantially in the following form, but:34
(a) If the writ is issued under an order or judgment for private 35
student loan debt, the following statement shall appear conspicuously 36
in the caption: "This garnishment is based on a judgment or order for 37
private student loan debt";38
p. 2 SB 6105

(b) If the writ is issued under an order or judgment for consumer 1
debt, except medical debt, the following statement shall appear 2
conspicuously in the caption: "This garnishment is based on a 3
judgment or order for consumer debt"; ((and))4
(c) If the writ is issued under an order or judgment for medical 5
debt, the following statement shall appear conspicuously in the 6
caption: "This garnishment is based on a judgment or order for 7
medical debt"; and8
(d) If the writ is issued by an attorney, the writ shall be 9
revised as indicated in subsection (2) of this section:10
11
12
13
"IN THE . . . . . COURT
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR
THE COUNTY OF . . . . . .
14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
15 Plaintiff, No. . . . .
16 vs.
17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , WRIT OF
18 Defendant GARNISHMENT FOR
19 CONTINUING LIEN ON
20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , EARNINGS
21 Garnishee
22 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23 Garnishee
24 AND TO:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 Defendant
26
27
28
29
30
The above-named plaintiff has applied for a writ of
garnishment against you, claiming that the above-named
defendant is indebted to plaintiff and that the amount