Every state debt-collection rule that matters, in one place.
A reference tracker maintained alongside the platform. Tracks active law, pending bills, and effective-date schedules across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. Treat it as a starting point, not legal advice.
What's in the tracker
- Licensing thresholds — when does a particular state require a debt-collection license, and what triggers it?
- Notice content rules — required disclosures, prohibited language, formatting requirements.
- Timing constraints — validation periods, post-judgment notice timing, contact-frequency caps.
- Channel restrictions — workplace contact, third-party contact, SMS-specific opt-in laws.
- Statute of limitations — written contracts, oral agreements, open accounts, by state.
- Pending legislation — bills currently moving in state legislatures, with realistic effective-date estimates.
Recent updates worth knowing
NY · Patient Medical Debt Protection Act amendment
Effective: April 2025. New York amended the look-back window for credit reporting on medical debt; collections agencies must now suppress reporting for an additional 180 days post-resolution.
CO · HB 23-1126
Effective:January 2024 (still ramping). Colorado's medical-debt-as-non-allowable-consumer-credit law is producing examiner attention; we've updated the CO medical block twice this year.
CA · AB 2837
Pending:CA AB 2837 would raise the small-claims wage-garnishment exemption substantially. Watch for governor's signature.
How writecomply uses the tracker
Tracker entries are linked to the specific blocks they govern. When an entry changes, dependent blocks are flagged for compliance-team review. When a block is updated, every dependent template is flagged for re-review. The chain works in both directions.