Sen. Lewis and Mass. Senate protect consumers from predatory debt collectors

On July 17, 2025, Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to unanimously pass legislation to protect consumers and keep people from being pushed into financial ruin if they are sued for financial debt. The new law would make debt collection practices fairer, protect wages and make clear that no person can go to prison for their unpaid consumer debt. An Act relative to fairness in debt collection would strengthen consumer protections to ensure that individuals can retain some financial security when they are sued for debts that are frequently old and often purchased by debt collection companies for pennies on the dollar.

“Exploitative debt collection practices have been used for too long to harm low- and middle-income families,” said Senator Lewis. “The Debt Collection Fairness Act creates much-needed safeguards to protect people from exorbitant charges by debt collection companies and open paths to recovery for those in financial distress.”

The legislation would protect thousands of families across Massachusetts by reducing the interest rate on consumer debt, by exempting most wages and child support from garnishment and by establishing a five-year statute of limitations for legal claims. The bill also prohibits employers from penalizing employees due to wage garnishment or personal debt, and it adds further protections for individuals coping with financial hardship.

On July 21 the House of Representatives referred this legislation to its committee on Ways and Means.