Can my federal return be taken for state debts

What type of state debts, taxes? If taxes what type, perhaps fines from court ?

Actually, yes, the state CAN petition (through the federak court system) to garnish your federal tax refund to satisfy a valid state debt, regardless of what the debt is for.

Private indivudals can do the same, but it is a long and expensive process, and it easily defeated by the person being garnished by adjusting their withholding to result in NOR tax refund.