SB 173 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CIVIL PROCEDURE: Provides for the garnishment process for banks. (8/1/26)

SB 173 changes Louisiana's rules for how banks handle garnishments (where a bank must pay a debtor's money to a court). It allows banks to immediately pay the sheriff up to $1,000 in a debtor's account without a court order, if they admit holding the funds and face no opposition. For amounts over $1,000, banks must wait 30 days after filing their answer before paying the sheriff. The bill applies to banks but excludes wage, salary, or commission garnishments. This directly affects banks and debtors in civil judgment cases.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB173 Original → SB173 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the garnishment process for federally insured banks, allowing them to automatically release funds to the sheriff without a court order if the account balance exceeds $1,000 and no opposition is filed. Previously, banks had to deliver funds immediately regardless of the amount, which could disrupt cash flow for larger accounts. The change introduces a 30-day waiting period for accounts over $1,000 to balance creditor rights with financial institution operations.

Scope change

The bill applies specifically to federally insured financial institutions and modifies the threshold for immediate fund release from all amounts to amounts greater than $1,000.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for federally insured banks to deliver funds immediately to allowing a 30-day waiting period for accounts with balances over $1,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a specific exemption stating that the new 30-day rule does not apply to garnishments of wages, salaries, tips, or commissions.

TIMELINE

Extended the timeline for banks to deliver funds in larger accounts from immediate delivery to a 30-day waiting period after filing the garnishment answer.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 20, 2026 · House May 6, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 40

Apr 20, 2026

D Democratic12

10 Yea 2

83% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 90, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (6-0-1). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors