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Medical-debt reform fails on Senate floor after lengthy debate; bill sought curb on garnishment and home liens
Summary
Senate Bill 3 17, a medical-debt bill that would have limited wage garnishment and home liens for lower‑income patients and required stronger charity‑care notices, was defeated 23–26 on the Senate floor after extensive debate.
Senate Bill 3 17, discussed extensively on March 3, 2025, would have required hospitals to provide clear notices to patients about charitable-assistance options, restricted wage garnishment for medical debt for households at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and barred liens on primary residences for qualifying patients. The sponsor, Senator Gudora, said the measure attempted to protect the most vulnerable households who face catastrophic medical bills.
Key floor points
- Supporters described cases in which families lost homes or savings due to medical debt, and cited national and state…
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