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Waukesha Times

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Rep. Dittrich authors bill in Wisconsin Assembly to extend garnishment limits

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Barbara Dittrich, Wisconsin State Representative for 99th District | https://www.facebook.com

Barbara Dittrich, Wisconsin State Representative for 99th District | https://www.facebook.com

A new bill authored by State Rep. Barbara Dittrich in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to extend garnishment periods and clarify priorities among different types of earnings garnishments, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "eliminating the 13-week limit on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill removes the 13-week limit on garnishment of certain debtors' earnings, allowing garnishments to persist until the debt is fully paid unless otherwise ordered by a court. It prioritizes court-ordered earnings garnishment for restitution in criminal cases over other garnishments but maintains the superior status of family law-related earnings assignments. Creditors must provide additional notices to debtors when garnishments extend beyond 13 weeks and continue sending exemption notices and forms every 180 days. The bill also stipulates the priority and amount limitations when both garnishment for restitution and family-support assignments are involved, ensuring garnishees manage payments without exceeding specified earning percentages.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Rob Hutton (Republican-5th District), Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), Representative Dean Kaufert (Republican-53rd District), Representative Joel Kitchens (Republican-1st District), Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), along five other co-sponsors.

Barbara Dittrich has authored or co-authored another 159 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.

Dittrich, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 99th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Cindi Duchow.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bills Introduced by Barbara Dittrich in Wisconsin Assembly During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
AB29605/30/2025Eliminating the 13-week limit on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors
AB29505/30/2025Allowing certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to engage in the practice of radiography
AB29405/30/2025Membership on the Board of Nursing
AB27305/19/2025The membership of the Controlled Substances Board
AB26205/19/2025Findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child
AB26005/19/2025A pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE)
AB25505/08/2025Assisted living facility referral agencies and providing a penalty
AB25205/08/2025The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE)
AB22104/23/2025All-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles with out-of-state registrations
AB20604/23/2025The procedure for adding federal newborn screening recommendations to the state-required newborn screenings, granting rule-making authority, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures. (FE)
AB19504/15/2025Revoking a transfer of real property on death, obtaining evidence of the termination of a decedent’s property interests, disbursing deposits after rescission of real property wholesaler contracts, and filing satisfactions of judgment
AB14103/17/2025Provisional social worker certificates and licenses
AB13903/17/2025A tax credit for relocating to this state due to Hurricane Helene or the Los Angeles wildfires. (FE)
AB12603/11/2025School bus back-up lamps
AB10603/11/2025Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE)
AB10303/04/2025School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns
AB10203/03/2025Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants
AB10003/03/2025Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants
AB7102/24/2025School district operating referenda
AB6802/24/2025The prescription drug monitoring program. (FE)
AB6302/24/2025Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE)
AB6102/24/2025Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty
AB4402/17/2025Allowing advanced practice nurse prescribers to pronounce the date, time, and place of a patient’s death for purposes of the preparation of death records
AB902/06/2025Allowing representatives of certain federally chartered youth membership organizations to provide information to pupils on public school property
AB502/03/2025Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents

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