HB396 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim HillRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Debtors, homestead exemption and personal property exemption, increased, Secs. 6-10-2, 6-10-6, 6-10-11, 43-8-110, 43-8-111, 43-8-113, 43-8-115 am'd.
Summary: HB396 would raise Alabama's homestead and personal property exemptions to 30,000 and 10,000 respectively for surviving spouses and individual debtors, allow bankruptcy filers to use federal exemptions, and limit wage garnishment.
What This Bill Does
It increases the dollar limits for homestead exemptions to 30,000 and personal property exemptions to 10,000 for survivors and individual debtors (while keeping the 160-acre area limit for homesteads). It also lets debtors filing bankruptcy choose exemptions under federal bankruptcy law instead of being limited to state exemptions. Additionally, it caps the amount of income that may be levied as wages, limiting garnishment to a portion of disposable income.

Who It Affects
Surviving spouses of decedents in Alabama and their eligible minor or dependent children, who would receive larger homestead allowances and exempt property values.
Individual debtors (including those filing bankruptcy) who would have higher exemptions and, if filing bankruptcy, the option to use federal exemptions; also wage earners facing income levies who would be subject to a new cap on garnishment.

Key Provisions
Increase homestead exemption for survivors and individuals to 30,000 dollars, with the homestead area limit remaining at 160 acres and mobile homes treated as homestead.
Increase personal property exemption for survivors and individuals to 10,000 dollars in value.
Allow debtors filing bankruptcy to elect exemptions under federal bankruptcy law, in addition to state exemptions.
Restrict the amount of income that may be levied, limiting garnishment to a portion of disposable income.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Homestead Exemption