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Bill

HB 570

Allow income tax refund garnishment for certain court costs, fees

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Josh Williams

HB 570 allows Ohio to garnish state income tax refunds to collect unpaid court costs and fees from taxpayers with outstanding court-ordered financial obligations.

Referred to committee
#courts #courtsandcivillaw #taxation
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Bill Summary · HB 570

Legislative bill overview

HB 570 would authorize the state to garnish income tax refunds to collect unpaid court costs and fees owed by taxpayers. This mechanism would apply to individuals who have outstanding financial obligations to the court system that remain unpaid.

Why is this important

Court-ordered fees and costs can accumulate significantly, and many people struggle to pay them alongside other financial obligations. This bill attempts to create an enforcement mechanism for collecting these debts, potentially improving court system funding and incentivizing timely payment. However, it directly affects individuals' access to tax refunds, which many rely on as critical financial resources.

Potential points of contention

  • Impact on low-income individuals: Tax refunds often represent the largest annual payment for low-income taxpayers; garnishment could create financial hardship for vulnerable populations already struggling with court fines
  • Debt collection fairness: Questions about whether this prioritizes court costs over other essential obligations like child support, student loans, or medical debt, and how it ranks against other garnishment mechanisms
  • Scope and due process: Concerns about what constitutes garnishable "court costs and fees," whether adequate notice and hearing rights are provided before garnishment, and potential for administrative overreach

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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