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SB 25-241

Deposit Bond Forfeitures in Judicial Fund

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 5 co-sponsors

SB 25-241 redirects deposit bond forfeiture revenues to the Judicial Fund, shifting funds to support court operations and related judicial programs.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 25-241

SB 25‑241 — Deposit Bond Forfeitures in Judicial Fund

Status: Governor signed (4/28/2025)
Introduced: 3/31/2025 | Classification: Bill

One‑line summary

SB 25‑241 redirects the disposition of forfeited deposit bond monies to the state Judicial Fund, altering where revenues from deposit bond forfeitures are deposited and used.

Purpose / intent

The bill’s stated purpose is to change the statutory destination for funds arising from deposit bond forfeitures so those monies are deposited into the Judicial Fund. The change is intended to centralize and dedicate forfeiture proceeds to judicial purposes rather than their prior recipients.

Key provisions (summary of substantive effect)

  • Directs that amounts collected from the forfeiture of deposit bonds be deposited in the Judicial Fund.
  • Establishes (or amends existing language establishing) the receiving account and the authority responsible for accepting and accounting for these funds (the Judicial Fund maintained for court operations and related judicial purposes).
  • Imposes an administrative process on court clerks/treasurers and the Judicial Department to transfer and record forfeiture receipts in accordance with the new allocation.
  • May repeal or override prior statutory provisions or local practices that directed deposit bond forfeiture proceeds to other state or local funds (text should be consulted for exact cross‑references).

Note: The exact statutory text, definitions (for example, definition of “deposit bond”), and any exemptions or special allocations are in the enrolled bill; readers should consult the enacted language for precise rules.

Who is affected

  • Judicial Branch / Judicial Fund: will receive new or increased revenue streams.
  • Trial courts and court administration: administrative changes to receipts processing and accounting.
  • Counties/local governments: could lose a revenue source previously receiving forfeiture proceeds (potential budgetary impact).
  • Defendants and sureties: no change to the substantive criminal/procedural law of bond forfeiture, but the ultimate destination of forfeited funds changes.
  • Indirect beneficiaries: court programs funded from the Judicial Fund (technology, self‑help services, interpreter services, etc.) may see additional resources.

Procedural timeline / status

  • Introduced in Senate: 3/31/2025 (assigned to Appropriations)
  • Passed Senate and House without amendments in April 2025
  • Sent to Governor: 4/17/2025
  • Governor signed: 4/28/2025 — bill enacted (check enrolled act for the effective date)

Fiscal and implementation considerations

  • The bill reallocates revenue; actual fiscal impact (state vs. local revenue shifts and net fiscal effect) should be reviewed in the bill’s fiscal note and the enacted law’s summary.
  • Administrative implementation will require updates to accounting/transfer procedures for court clerks and the Administrative Office of the Courts/Judicial Department.
  • For exact effective date, implementing instructions, and any transitional provisions, consult the enrolled bill text or the session laws published after enactment.

Sponsors and cosponsors

Primary sponsors: Rick Taggart; Barbara Kirkmeyer; Judy Amabile; Emily Sirota
Cosponsors: S. Bird; J. Bridges

For full statutory language and the official fiscal note, see the enacted bill (SB 25‑241) on the state legislature’s website or the office that publishes session laws.

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

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