An Act relative to fairness in debt collection

S 2551 creates new protections for consumers facing wage garnishment for consumer debt. It requires that 90% of a worker’s weekly wages (or 65 times the state/federal minimum hourly wage) be exempt from garnishment, with additional hardship exemptions available through a court process. The bill also prohibits employers from firing or refusing to hire workers due to consumer debt garnishments and exempts child support payments from collection. These changes directly affect consumers with wage garnishment orders, employers, and debt collectors operating in Massachusetts.