HB 661

Withdrawn

Consumer Protection and Debt Collection - Exemptions From Attachment and Requirements on Judgment Creditors

Sponsor: Lorig Charkoudian (District 20)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Commercial Law - Consumer ProtectionStatus: Unfavorable Report by Economic Matters; Withdrawn (as of Nov 13, 2024)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the amount of wages of a judgment debtor that are exempt from attachment; establishing and altering certain requirements on judgment creditors; making a violation of certain requirements on judgment creditors relating to a judgment arising out of a consumer transaction an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; making certain conduct a prohibited debt collection practice; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (23)

MGA witness list

FAV 12FavorableUNF 11Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Dumais, Brige	1199SEIU UHE	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneiderman, Franzlobbyist	Consumer Auto	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gallagher, Zoelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Santoni, Jane	Maryland Association of Justice	Oral
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Best, Michael	National Consumer Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Charkoudian, Lorig	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Charkoudian, Delegate Charkoudianlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Fink, Nelda	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
UNF	Washington, Ryanlobbyist	Apartment and Office Building Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Gibson, Jessica	Encore Capital Group	Oral
UNF	Clark, Rachellobbyist	Evans & Associates, LLC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lagana, Michael	Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A.	Oral
UNF	Richards, Evanlobbyist	Maryland Bankers Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Talarowski, Justin	Mid-Atlantic Collectors Association	Oral
UNF	Willner, Nathan	National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA)	Oral
UNF	Bellamy, Lorenzolobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Murray, Rorylobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Peters, Scott	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

1199SEIU UHEFAV 1

Apartment and Office Building AssociationUNF 1

Consumer AutoFAV 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 2

Encore Capital GroupUNF 1

Evans & Associates, LLCUNF 1

Klima, Peters & Daly, P.A.UNF 1

Maryland Association of JusticeFAV 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Mid-Atlantic Collectors AssociationUNF 1

National Consumer Law CenterFAV 1

National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA)UNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVSchneiderman, FranzConsumer AutoRegistered for: Auto Consumer Alliance; Consumer Auto

FAVGallagher, ZoeEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland

FAVWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

FAVSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

UNFWashington, RyanApartment and Office Building AssociationRegistered for: AOBA; National Apartment Association; Apartment & Office Building Association

UNFClark, RachelEvans & Associates, LLCRegistered for: Accenture LLP; Arundel Amusements/Bingo World; Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence; CALSTART; Carvana; Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 89…

UNFRichards, EvanMaryland Bankers AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Bankers Association

UNFBellamy, LorenzoRegistered for: ACLU of Maryland; Alliance for Responsible Consumer Legal Funding; American Forest & Paper Association; Americans for Patient Access; Avaya, Inc.; Bellamy Genn Group, LLC…

UNFGreenfield, AaronRegistered for: BTS Bioenergy; Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc.; Embassy of Japan; Ernst & Young, LLP; FEi Systems; Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake…

UNFMurray, RoryRegistered for: Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's Disease; American Council of Engineering Companies/MD; Association of Independent Maryland and D.C. Schools; Chesapeake Watershed Restoration Professionals; Kaiser Permanente; Lightstar Renewables…