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HB 1233

Va. Sexual & Domestic Violence Victim fund; fee for offenses related to solicitation of minors, etc.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Karrie Delaney

Virginia bill creates offender fees for solicitation crimes to fund sexual and domestic violence victim services, expanding support resources through convicted offender payments.

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)
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Bill Summary · HB 1233

Legislative bill overview

HB 1233 establishes a dedicated funding mechanism for Virginia's Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim fund by imposing additional fees on offenders convicted of crimes related to solicitation of minors and related offenses. The bill directs revenue generated from these fees directly to support services for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Why is this important

Sexual and domestic violence victim services are often underfunded, limiting access to critical resources like counseling, legal advocacy, emergency housing, and hotline support. By creating a sustainable revenue stream tied to offender fees, the bill attempts to increase victim service capacity without requiring general tax revenue increases, though the actual funding impact depends on conviction rates and fee amounts.

Potential points of contention

  • Fee structure concerns: Questions about whether fees on offenders convicted of solicitation crimes will generate sufficient revenue to meaningfully expand victim services, or if the amounts are nominal
  • Scope ambiguity: Unclear whether "related to solicitation of minors" encompasses a narrow or broad range of offenses, affecting how many defendants pay fees and total revenue
  • Appropriations dependency: The subcommittee's referral to Appropriations suggests budget concerns—the bill may require general fund allocation despite fee-based framing, or face questions about enforceability of fee collection

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

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