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Bill

HB 2457

Ensuring access to victim services through the crime victim penalty assessment.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Davis

HB 2457 funds victim services through criminal penalty assessments added to sentences, ensuring dedicated revenue for counseling, advocacy, and emergency support programs.

Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.
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Bill Summary · HB 2457

Legislative bill overview

HB 2457 establishes or modifies crime victim penalty assessments—financial penalties added to criminal sentences that fund victim services like counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency assistance. The bill aims to ensure consistent funding for these support programs by clarifying assessment procedures and potentially adjusting collection mechanisms.

Why is this important

Victim services are often underfunded and inconsistently available across jurisdictions, leaving crime survivors without critical support during recovery. This bill directly affects both the criminal justice system's capacity to support victims and the financial obligations placed on defendants as part of sentencing.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment fairness: Critics may argue that adding financial penalties to sentences disproportionately impacts low-income defendants, potentially creating barriers to restitution or other victim compensation that takes priority
  • Funding reliability: Questions about whether penalty assessments generate sufficient, stable revenue compared to general appropriations, and whether collection rates justify relying on criminal defendants as a funding source
  • Assessment scope: Debate over which crimes should trigger assessments, at what amounts, and whether exemptions exist for indigent defendants or specific circumstances

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

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