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Bill

SB 472

Court fines and fees; waiver of fees for indigent defendant.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Creigh Deeds

Bill waives court fines and fees for indigent defendants in Virginia, removing financial barriers to justice while potentially reducing court revenue and requiring new indigency determination procedures.

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
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Bill Summary · SB 472

Legislative bill overview

SB 472 would require Virginia courts to waive or reduce court fines and fees for defendants who cannot afford to pay them due to indigency. The bill establishes a mechanism for determining financial hardship and prevents courts from imposing financial penalties that effectively deny access to justice for poor defendants.

Why is this important

Court fines and fees create significant barriers for low-income individuals, often leading to debt cycles, license suspensions, and additional legal consequences for inability to pay rather than for the underlying offense. This bill addresses a documented national issue where court-imposed financial obligations disproportionately burden economically disadvantaged populations and can perpetuate cycles of poverty and criminal justice involvement.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impact: Courts and local governments rely on fine and fee revenue for operations; waiving fees could shift budget pressures to general appropriations or require service reductions
  • Definition of indigency: Disputes may arise over what income thresholds qualify for waivers and whether the standard is too broad or too narrow
  • Implementation burden: Courts would need new administrative processes to assess financial hardship for each defendant, potentially increasing administrative costs and court delays

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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