Bill
S 5546
Relates to procedures in consumer debt lawsuits, requiring clearer proof of assignment, better notice, and safeguards against default judgments to protect consumers.
Status and basic information
- Bill number: S 5546 (Print No. 5546B)
- Title: Relates to actions arising out of consumer debt
- Introduced: February 24, 2025
- Sponsors: Sen. Brad Hoylman‑Sigal (primary); cosponsors Sens. Andrew Gounardes and Cordell Cleare
- Committee referral: Referred to Judiciary (2/24/2025)
- Recent procedural actions:
- Print No. 5546A (5/22/2025) — amended and recommitted to Judiciary
- Print No. 5546B (10/01/2025) — amended and recommitted to Judiciary (two identical entries)
- Related legislation: Prior-session S.4750; Assembly companion A.57
What is known (title and procedural record)
- The bill’s caption — “Relates to actions arising out of consumer debt” — indicates it addresses the procedures, evidence requirements, remedies, or other rules that apply when a consumer is sued (or otherwise brought into court) over a debt.
- The bill has been actively amended and returned to the Judiciary Committee, indicating ongoing drafting changes and committee scrutiny.
Who would be affected
- Consumers (individuals sued or threatened with suit over consumer debts)
- Debt buyers and original creditors who bring or defend collection actions
- Debt‑collection law firms and attorneys (especially those who regularly prosecute default or collection cases)
- Courts and court clerks (procedures, forms, hearings)
- Potentially employers or third parties if remedies such as garnishment or seizure are involved
Likely subject areas (based on title, sponsors, and related bills)
- Procedural safeguards in debt collection lawsuits (e.g., stricter evidence/affidavit requirements before seeking judgment)
- Requirements for proof of assignment/chain of title when debt is sold to a debt buyer
- Limitations on entering default judgments without sufficient proof or notice
- Notice and documentation requirements provided to consumers before or during litigation
- Remedies, damages, or fee-shifting provisions (attorney fees, statutory damages) protecting consumers
Note: the uploaded bill text in the materials provided is not legible (appears as embedded/garbled PDF streams). The exact statutory changes and any numeric thresholds, timelines, or monetary limits are not extractable from the file you provided.
Procedural outlook and next steps
- S.5546 remains in (or has been returned to) the Senate Judiciary Committee as of 10/01/2025 following amendment.
- For the bill to advance it would need a Judiciary Committee report, a floor vote in the Senate, concurrence/consideration of the Assembly companion (A.57), and the Governor’s signature to become law.
- Because a companion (A.57) exists and a prior-session version (S.4750) is referenced, comparing the identical Assembly text or the prior-session text often clarifies substantive provisions.
If you’d like
- I can retrieve and summarize the clear bill text if you provide a readable copy (PDF/text) or the Assembly companion (A.57) text.
- I can compare S.5546 to prior S.4750 or A.57 to identify exact provisions, dollar thresholds, deadlines, or new statutory language.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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