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On November 6, 2003, HALT testified before the Massachusetts Joint Commission on the Judiciary in support of Senate Bill 1109, which would raise the small claims jurisdictional limit to $5,000. The present dollar limit of $2,000 is the fourth-worst in the nation. The bill is also supported by the Harvard Small Claims Advisory Service, a student organization that provides advice on navigating small claims courts to people in the Boston area.
House Bill 1047, which raises the small claims court dollar limit from $3,000 to $6000 statewide, passed the Indiana legislature in April. Although this change in dollar limit will not take effect until 2005, this bill will make Indiana's dollar limit among the highest in the nation. Bill author Jon Ulmer originally intended the bill to raise the limit to $10,000, but it was amended to its present form.
On September 30, New York Governor George Pataki signed a small claims reform bill into law, increasing the small claims jurisdictional limit across most of the state to $5,000. The law took effect on January 1, 2004.
As state legislative sessions get into full swing, small claims reform is again being considered nationwide. Here is a state-by-state report on pending legislation. Be on the look out for Action Alerts in the future, so you can help pass some of these important reforms!
- House Bill 227, which stands to increase the state’s jurisdictional limit in small claims court to $10,000, is currently before Alaskan Governor Murkowski. This bill will tie Alaska’s limit for third highest in the nation and ensure that more Alaskans have a forum to solve their everyday disputes. In May 2004, HALT sent the Governor a letter in support of this legislation. Read More.
- Senate Bill 92, legislation that stood to raise the jurisdictional limit on small claims courts from $3,500--one of the most prohibitively low dollar limits in the nation –to $5,000 died in March 2004 because state lawmakers did not act on it before a deadline scheduled in the legislative calendar. Click here to read the full text of the Bill.
- Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. introduced Senate Bill 455, which would reduce the small claims jurisdiction from $6,000 to $3,000. This would effectively repeal the recently passed increase in small claims jurisdiction from $3,000 to $6,000. HALT's research indicates that no state has ever decreased its small claims jurisdictional limit. The Indiana legislature adjourned without acting on the bill. Click here to read the full text of the Bill.
- Senate File 2106, introduced by Senator Matt McCoy, has passed the Senate and is now in front of the House Committee on the Judiciary. The bill would raise small claims court jurisdiction from $5,000 to $8,000. Click here to read the full text of the Bill.
- On February 16, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 437, which would raise the small claims dollar limit from $1,800 (third lowest in the country) to the national median of $5,000. Another bill, House Bill 2678, raising the limit to $4,000, passed the House on February 17 and is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here to read the full text of the Bill.
- In May 2004, HALT wrote letters to all the members of the House Judiciary Committee in support of SB 376, which will require that both parties to agree to move a case from small claims court to regular district court, thereby helping to ensure that consumers are able to resolve small claims without being forced to hire a lawyer. HALT believes that SB 376 would greatly enhance the fairness of small claims court, which is the only forum where most Louisianans can seek a resolution of their everyday disputes. Read More.
- House Bill 5403 would raise the small claims dollar limit from $3,000 to $10,000, which would move Michigan from the seventh-lowest limit in the country to the second-highest. The bill is currently before the House Judiciary Committee. HALT is urging its Michigan members to contact House Judiciary Chairman Jim Howell in support of the bill. Click here to read HALT's Action Alert on this legislation.
- House Bill 2106, increasing the small claims dollar limit from $4,500 to $7,500, was approved by the Governor. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Terry Ingmire, will increase consumers’ access to courts. It will take effect on November 1, 2004. Click here to read the full text of the Bill.
- Senate Bill 2110, which would raise the small claims dollar limit from $1,500 to $2,500, is currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Rhode Island, along with Kentucky, has the lowest small claims jurisdiction in the country. If the legislation passes, Rhode Island would still have the sixth-lowest jurisdiction. Click here to read the full text of the Bill.
- Rep. Steven Urquhart's House Bill 124 was signed in to law by Governor Olene S. Walker on March 19. The law raises the small claims jurisdiction from $5,000 to $7,500. It also allows non-lawyers to represent parties in small claims cases as long as they do not receive compensation. Click here to read the full text of the legislation.
- Governor Gary Locke recently signed House Bill 1572, which will make it easier for small claims litigants to collect from the opposing party when they win a judgment. The new law requires losing parties who do not pay within thirty days of a judgment against them to pay for the plaintiff's collection costs. This law will provide additional incentive for losing parties to pay on time and will also allow plaintiffs to hire collection agents to help them get the money to which they are entitled. The bill was stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee until HALT wrote to the committee's chair and vice-chair explaining the importance of the legislation to Washingtonians.
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