WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1499

HB 1499: Legal financial obligations

Concerning legal financial obligations.

Summary

  • Provides that costs may not be imposed against a defendant in a criminal case except as specifically authorized by statute, eliminates a number of provisions that authorize imposition of costs or fees, and repeals the statute that imposes interest on restitution judgments.
  • Makes debts for costs, fees, and accrued interest eliminated by the act unenforceable and considered null and void and satisfied and paid in full.
  • Allows the presiding judge of a superior court to authorize an administrative process to waive uncollectible outstanding debt and the superior court clerk to seek a judicial order to waive uncollectible debt.
  • Revises the definition of "indigent" for purposes of determining imposition or waiver of legal financial obligations.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1499), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee
  1. IntroducedJan 22, 2025
  2. Out of committeestopped here
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Julia Reed (D-36)
Introduced
January 22, 2025 in the House
Last action
January 12, 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1499, SHB 1499

AN ACT Relating to legal financial obligations;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Julia Reed (D-36)

19 co-sponsors (19 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Roger Goodman D-45Sharlett Mena D-29Shaun Scott D-43Debra Entenman D-47Julio Cortes D-38Darya Farivar D-46Jamila Taylor D-30Liz Berry D-36Lillian Ortiz-Self D-21Debra Lekanoff D-40Beth Doglio D-22Cindy Ryu D-32Strom Peterson D-21Lisa Parshley D-22Timm Ormsby D-3Nicole Macri D-43Gerry Pollet D-46Natasha Hill D-3Osman Salahuddin D-48

Votes

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SHB 1499)
  2. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  3. Referred to Appropriations. (SHB 1499)
  4. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1499)
  5. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1499)
  6. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.
  7. Minority; do not pass.
  8. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  9. Referred to Appropriations.
  10. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

HB 1499 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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