Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the disposition of collected criminal case fines and establishing a victim restitution fund
Sponsored by Rep. Brett Barker (R), Rep. Chad Behn (R), Rep. Dr. Steven P. Bradley (R), Rep. Taylor R. Collins (R), Rep. Zach Dieken (R), Rep. Samantha Fett (R), Rep. Dan Gehlbach (R), Rep. Thomas Gerhold (R), Rep. Cindy Golding (R), Rep. Daniel Gosa (D), Rep. Thomas M. Jeneary (R), Rep. Megan Jones (R), Rep. Wendy Larson (R), Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla (R), Rep. Brent Siegrist (R), Rep. Mark I. Thompson (R), Rep. Mike Vondran (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 16, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 22, 2026
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary When people pay fines for criminal violations, a portion of that money would now go into a new victim restitution fund. This fund would be managed by the Department of Justice to help pay for certain financial losses or damages suffered by victims. The money stays in this fund even at the end of the year so it can be used for these specific purposes later.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the disposition of collected criminal case fines. Current law provides that the clerk of the district court shall distribute the fine amount for a criminal violation that occurred within the boundaries of a county as follows: percent to the state court administrator and percent to the county treasurer for deposit in the county general fund where the violation occurred. The bill provides that the fine amount for a criminal violation that occurred within the boundaries of a county shall be distributed as follows: percent to the state court administrator, percent to the county treasurer for deposit in the county general fund where the violation occurred, and percent to the victim restitution fund established in the bill. The bill provides that a victim restitution fund is established as a separate fund in the state treasury.3B. “Pecuniary damages” means all damages to the extent not paid by an insurer on an insurance claim by a victim, which a victim could recover against the offender in a civil action arising out of the same facts or event, except punitive damages and damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium, and includes damages for wrongful death and expenses incurred for psychiatric or psychological services or counseling or other counseling for the victim, which became necessary as a direct result of the criminal activity.3B provides for the payment of at least $150,000 to a victim’s estate or a victim’s heirs in addition to pecuniary damages.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated.
House subcommittee
Named January 22, 2026. On January 27, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 472 Relating to the disposition of collected criminal case fines and establishing a victim res…89th General Assembly · In committee · similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 1007 Relating to the disposition of collected criminal case fines and establishing a victim res…91st General Assembly · Passed HouseNearly identical
- HF 751 Relating to the disposition of collected criminal case fines and establishing a victim res…91st General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.