VirginiaSB1802026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Fines and costs; period of limitations on collection, responsibility for collections.

Sponsored By: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Fines and costs; period of limitations on collection; deferred payment agreement. Changes the period of limitations for the collection of court fines and costs from within 60 years from the date of the offense or delinquency giving rise to imposition of such penalty if imposed by a circuit court or within 30 years if imposed by a general district court to within 10 years from the date of the judgment whether imposed by a circuit court or general district court. The bill provides that upon the expiration of the period of limitations, no action shall be brought to collect the debt.The bill extends the time period for commencing collection activity from 90 days to 180 days after judgment, but provides that no collection activity shall be commenced while a defendant is incarcerated on an active term of imprisonment and subject to a deferred payment agreement.The bill also provides that for any defendant sentenced to an active term of incarceration and ordered to pay any fine, cost, forfeiture, or penalty related to the charge that such defendant is incarcerated for, or any other charge for which such defendant was sentenced on the same day, the court shall enter such defendant into a deferred payment agreement for such fines, costs, forfeitures, or penalties. The bill requires the due date for such deferred payment agreement to be set no earlier than 180 days after the defendant's scheduled release from incarceration on the charge for which such defendant was sentenced on the same day. This bill incorporates SB 185 and SB 810 and is identical to HB 17. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Payment plans start after jail release

Beginning January 1, 2027, if you are sentenced to incarceration, the court sets a deferred payment plan for fines, costs, forfeitures, or penalties. Your first due date is no sooner than 180 days after your scheduled release on the same-day sentences. The time limit to collect starts on that due date, not at sentencing.

Time limits on collecting court debts

Beginning January 1, 2027, the government has at most 10 years to sue for circuit-court monetary penalties (not fines). It has up to 30 years for general district court monetary penalties (not fines). These clocks run from the date of the offense or delinquency. Once the time runs out, it cannot be restarted. Partial payments, promises to pay, or switching collection methods do not revive the debt.

More time before collections and reports

Beginning January 1, 2027, collection activity may begin 180 days after judgment if you do not sign an installment plan. Court clerks send monthly lists only for accounts more than 180 days past due. They add quarterly lists only after 180 days with no payments since the account went to collections. Reports may include your Social Security number or driver's license number if known.

New one-time $10 court account fee

Beginning January 1, 2027, if you cannot pay within 90 days of sentencing, the court may charge a one-time account fee up to $10. The fee covers managing your account until it is paid in full. It does not apply to certain juvenile cases listed in state law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angelia Williams Graves

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 192 • No: 37

House vote 3/4/2026

Passed House

Yes: 89 • No: 9

House vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 22 • No: 17

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote 2/2/2026

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

Yes: 9 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0356)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter356(Effective 1/1/2027)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (3/23/2026 3:14 pm)

    3/23/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB180ER)

    3/11/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/11/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  10. Passed House (89-Y 9-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026House
  11. Read third time

    3/4/2026House
  12. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    3/4/2026House
  13. Read second time

    3/3/2026House
  14. Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)

    3/2/2026House
  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB180)

    2/23/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/18/2026House
  17. Read first time

    2/18/2026House
  18. Placed on Calendar

    2/18/2026House
  19. Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)

    2/13/2026Senate
  20. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

    2/12/2026Senate
  21. Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote)

    2/12/2026Senate
  22. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

    2/12/2026Senate
  23. Read second time

    2/12/2026Senate
  24. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/11/2026Senate
  25. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/11/2026Senate

Bill Text

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