Mainers across the state are struggling to keep up with rising costs caused by foreign wars, tariffs and the reckless decisions made at the federal level. This past session, my colleagues and I worked hard to address these affordability concerns and stand up for our communities. No one should need to worry about whether they will be able to afford an unexpected payment, like a car repair or a trip to the doctor. Only 54.2% of Maine households earn enough to meet their basic needs, let alone weather significant unexpected expenses, according to the Brookings Institute’s “States of Affordability” report released earlier this year.
States are now on their own when it comes to protecting those who are at risk of falling into major debt caused by one of those unexpected expenses: a medical emergency. The current presidential administration quickly made significant cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after the 2024 election and reversed its decision to cut medical debt from Americans’ credit reports. As legislators, it has fallen to us to ensure that getting sick or injured does not lead to a financial crisis.
This is why I was proud to support LD 2129, “An Act to Prohibit Liens on Principal Residences and Wage Garnishments for Medical Debt.” This new law —introduced by my friend, Sen. Donna Bailey — is going into effect this week. The law will prevent medical debt collectors from placing a lien on someone’s home and from garnishing their wages for unpaid medical expenses. Prior to this law taking effect, healthcare facilities throughout the state could sell someone’s unpaid medical debts to professional debt collectors, who could then garnish that individual’s wages — a legal procedure in which a court may order an employer to withhold someone’s income in order to pay off the debt. If the medical debt was significant enough, debt collectors might seek to place a legal claim on an individual’s house as security for debt repayment, which can result in a family losing their home.
Wage garnishing can throw a family’s finances and budgeting into chaos. Liens can be catastrophic, causing the loss of safe living spaces. I find it unacceptable that, in the wealthiest country in the world, anyone should need to worry about whether they can afford a life-saving procedure or medication, or just a routine checkup. While we still have a long way to go to make that a reality in America, I hope laws like LD 2129 will take a little weight off the shoulders of Maine families. I will continue to introduce and advocate for legislation that protects Maine consumers and working people and alleviates overbearing costs. If you have any questions about this new law or any others that will be taking effect this week, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can always email me at [email protected], or you can call my office at 207-287-1515.
Sen. Denise Tepler represents Maine Senate District 24, which includes all of Sagadahoc County, plus Dresden in Lincoln County.