Committee hears competing views on receivership bill that would change protections for wages

Senator Parker laid out Senate Bill 3009 and a committee substitute before the Committee on Jurisprudence, saying the measure "restores fairness and uniformity by requiring receivers after 6 months of unpaid judgments and also allowing receivers to seize non exempt property." The committee heard extended public testimony both for and against the substitute before closing public testimony and leaving the bill pending.

The bill’s supporters including Craig Nowak, speaking for the Texas Creditors Bar Association, said the change "is designed to stop the kinds of arguments that are being made, to disrupt what is already enshrined in the law." Nowak described turnover receivers as a necessary tool to enforce valid judgments and said receivers can resolve frozen accounts more quickly than garnishment proceedings.

Opponents — including Anne Vadore and Amy Clark, who testified in opposition — said the committee substitute removes long-standing protections for exempt assets and…