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H.R. 10373House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act

Sponsored by Robert C. "Bobby" ScottRep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA)
Introduced September 14, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 15, 2026 at 8:13 PM UTC

The Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act would change the Fair Labor Standards Act to stop any employer from having an employee’s wages taken to pay medical bills. It bars federal and state courts, as well as state agencies, from ordering or enforcing such wage garnishments. The rule would apply to all workers across the United States and would take effect six months after the law is passed.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 8 to the Fair Labor Standards Act that says no employee’s wages may be garnished for medical debt, regardless of other laws.
  • Prohibits any U.S. or state court, or state officer or agency, from issuing or carrying out orders that garnish wages for medical debt.
  • Defines “garnishment” as any legal process that withholds wages for medical debt and defines “medical debt” as debt from services or items provided by a health‑care facility or provider.
  • Repeals Section 10 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (the previous provision related to wage garnishment).
  • Sets the law’s effective date to be six months after enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

September 14, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 14, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

September 14, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 14, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10373

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 14, 2026

Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Omar, and Mr. Casar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the garnishment of wages in relation to medical debt, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act.

2.

Prohibition on wage garnishment for medical debts

(a)

In general

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 7 the following:

8.

Prohibition on wage garnishment for medical debts

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no wages of an employee may be subject to garnishment for the payment of any medical debt.

(b)

Prohibition on courts and States

No court of the United States or any State, and no State (or officer or agency thereof), may make, execute, or enforce any order or process in violation of this section.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Garnishment

The term garnishment means any legal or equitable procedure through which the wages of any individual are required to be withheld for payment of any medical debt.

(2)

Medical debt

.The term medical debt means a debt arising from the furnishing of items and services by a health care facility or health care provider (as defined in section 101(6) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611(6)).

.

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 10 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 210) is repealed.

(c)

Effective date

This Act shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.