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VA HB16

VA HB16
Community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated.


summary

Introduced
12/22/2025
In Committee
03/04/2026
Crossed Over
03/10/2026
Passed
04/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/13/2026

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated. Requires a court to establish a program and allow any person upon whom a fine and costs have been imposed to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by earning credits for the performance of (i) community service work performed before or after imprisonment or (ii) work performed while incarcerated, defined in the bill as any work done on or after July 1, 2023, by a person confined in any local, regional, or state correctional facility who is paid a wage that is less than the Virginia minimum wage.The bill requires such program to be available during such person's imprisonment in a local, regional, or state correctional facility. The bill provides that a person who is performing work while incarcerated shall be credited at the same rate as the community service work rate less any wages received. Under current law, a court is required to establish a program for providing an option for community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs but offering such option is not mandatory. The bill also requires the local, regional, or state correctional facility to provide confirmation of the hours worked and the credits earned for such work upon request of any person who has performed work while incarcerated or his representative.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that courts establish programs allowing individuals fined or ordered to pay costs to earn credits towards their debt by performing community service work, either before or after imprisonment, or by working while incarcerated. Work performed while incarcerated, defined as any labor on or after July 1, 2023, by someone in a correctional facility paid less than the Virginia minimum wage, will be credited at the same rate as community service, minus any wages received. Correctional facilities must also provide confirmation of hours worked and credits earned for incarcerated individuals upon request. This expands upon current law, which only permits courts to offer community service as an option, making it a requirement.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Justice

Sponsors (23)

Last Action

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0544) (on 04/13/2026)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/CHAP0544
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214717.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16ER
Senate Amendments https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16EDOC
Courts of Justice Amendment https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16AS1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1149133.PDF
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16E
Courts of Justice Amendment https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16AH1
Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16) https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096778.PDF
Criminal Subcommittee Amendment https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16AHC1
BillText https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB16/text/HB16
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