VirginiaHB162026 Regular SessionHouse

Community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated.

Sponsored By: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated. Requires a court to establish a program and allow any person upon whom a fine and costs have been imposed to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by earning credits for the performance of (i) community service work performed before or after imprisonment or (ii) work performed while incarcerated, defined in the bill as any work done on or after July 1, 2023, by a person confined in any local, regional, or state correctional facility who is paid a wage that is less than the Virginia minimum wage.The bill requires such program to be available during such person's imprisonment in a local, regional, or state correctional facility. The bill provides that a person who is performing work while incarcerated shall be credited at the same rate as the community service work rate less any wages received. Under current law, a court is required to establish a program for providing an option for community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs but offering such option is not mandatory. The bill also requires the local, regional, or state correctional facility to provide confirmation of the hours worked and the credits earned for such work upon request of any person who has performed work while incarcerated or his representative.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Work credits to reduce court debts

Courts run a program that lets you cut fines and court costs by earning credits for community service or approved jail work. Credits for jail work are set at the community service rate, minus any wages you are paid. "Work performed while incarcerated" means jobs done on or after July 1, 2023 that pay below Virginia’s minimum wage. The facility must give you, or your chosen representative, written proof of hours worked and credits earned. The court must give you written terms and conditions of the credit program.

Payments and withholding for jailed workers

If you are in state or local custody and join work release, home or electronic incarceration, or nonconsecutive days programs, you must pay in full or follow a payment plan while in the program. If you do not pay as ordered, you can be removed from the program. Prisons and jails must withhold money owed to you, such as wages, and pay it in this order: support obligations, restitution, fines and costs, program travel/expenses, then your keep. Any leftover money goes to your account or your family, as you choose. State and local jail authorities must set detailed rules for receiving wages, withholding, and paying out funds.

Court payment plans, fees, and collections

Courts let you pay fines, restitution, forfeitures, penalties, and costs over time with a deferred or installment plan. You must tell the court if your mailing address changes while the plan is active. If you cannot pay within 90 days of sentencing, the court may charge a one-time fee up to $10. If you owe restitution, your plan payments go to restitution first, then to other fines and costs. Clerks post the payment rules and warn that failing to pay can lead to fines or jail. If you do not enter a plan or miss payments, the Tax Commissioner collects the debt.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marcia S. "Cia" Price

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 287 • No: 76

House vote 3/10/2026

Senate amendments agreed to by House

Yes: 79 • No: 20

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed Senate with amendments

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 9 • No: 6

House vote 2/6/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 72 • No: 25

House vote 2/2/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/30/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 6 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 1/28/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 19 • No: 1

House vote 1/23/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0544)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 544 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16)

    3/31/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB16ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate amendments agreed to by House (79-Y 20-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with amendments (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  12. Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to

    3/9/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/9/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/9/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  16. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/5/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    3/5/2026Senate
  19. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

    3/4/2026Senate
  20. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  21. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16)

    2/16/2026House
  22. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/9/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/9/2026Senate
  24. Read third time and passed House (72-Y 25-N 0-A)

    2/6/2026House
  25. Engrossed by House as amended

    2/5/2026House

Bill Text

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