SHB 1499
In CommitteeHouse
Legal financial obligations
Concerning legal financial obligations.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill eliminates most outstanding legal financial obligations (LFOs) other than restitution for people convicted of crimes, waives interest on criminal LFOs, and expands protections for indigent defendants. It phases out collection of fines, fees, and interest over three years and prevents courts from enforcing or collecting many types of LFOs after June 7, 2025.
- All outstanding legal financial obligations (LFOs) other than restitution—such as fines, fees, and interest—imposed in criminal cases will be waived and considered paid in full by July 1, 2028, with a phased schedule based on case filing dates.
- Courts may not accept payments or accrue interest on most LFOs after June 7, 2025, and interest will no longer accrue on criminal LFOs once assigned to collections.
- Courts must waive uncollectible LFOs (other than restitution) for indigent, homeless, or mentally ill individuals, and may use administrative processes or judicial orders to do so.
- The definition of 'indigent' is expanded to include people with household income up to 200% of the federal poverty level who face high basic living costs, and courts may not impose LFOs on indigent defendants except as specifically authorized by law.
- Enforcement of non-restitution LFOs is limited to 10 years after release from confinement or entry of judgment, and courts may only extend enforcement if the offender has the current or likely future ability to pay.
Who is affected
- People with criminal legal financial obligations — People with outstanding legal financial obligations (LFOs) from criminal cases, especially those who are indigent, homeless, or mentally ill, will have many of their debts waived and no longer enforced after the bill takes effect.
- Courts and court clerks — Courts and clerks will need to implement processes to identify, review, and waive uncollectible LFOs, and may no longer collect or accrue interest on many types of LFOs.
- Crime victims — Victims of crime may still receive restitution, but the process for collecting non-restitution LFOs (like fines and fees) will be significantly limited, especially for low-income individuals.
- Local governments and counties — Local governments and counties will lose revenue from many court-imposed fees, fines, and interest that are no longer collectible under the bill.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill will discharge most outstanding LFOs (fines, fees, interest) for people convicted of crimes—especially those who are indigent, homeless, or mentally ill—by July 1, 2028, according to a phased schedule. This directly reduces or eliminates crushing debt burdens that trap people in cycles of poverty, wage garnishment, and incarceration for nonpayment. The expanded indigency definition (up to 200% FPL with high living costs) ensures broader eligibility than current law.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14By waiving LFOs for indigent, homeless, and mentally ill individuals and preventing courts from enforcing collection against them, the bill removes a major barrier to accessing mental health and substance use treatment—many people avoid care due to fear of debt enforcement or wage garnishment. This aligns with public health goals and may reduce emergency room and jail-based crisis care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14The bill reduces the use of incarceration for nonpayment of LFOs by requiring courts to find willfulness and ability to pay before sanctioning, and by presuming indigent individuals lack ability to pay. This decreases jail populations and associated harms (e.g., job loss, family disruption), improving long-term public safety outcomes.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14The bill strengthens due process protections by requiring courts to evaluate ability to pay before imposing or enforcing LFOs, and by preventing credit reporting, background checks, or collection agency reporting of waived debts. This reduces the risk of lifelong collateral consequences for people who cannot pay.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14By eliminating debt barriers, the bill may improve access to higher education or vocational training for formerly incarcerated people, especially those who qualify for federal aid but are blocked by state LFOs. However, the bill does not include education-specific funding or outreach, so impact is limited and indirect.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14
Potential Concerns (5)
Elimination of most LFOs (fines, fees, interest) will cause significant revenue loss for local governments—approximately $100M over the biennium per the fiscal impact—reducing funds available for courts, public safety, and community services. Though restitution remains collectible, the loss of non-restitution LFOs disproportionately impacts counties that rely on these collections for budgeting.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14By waiving debts for indigent, homeless, and mentally ill individuals—especially those with outstanding warrants or active collections—the bill may reduce pressure on law enforcement and courts to enforce collection, but it also removes a tool that some jurisdictions use to encourage compliance with court orders, potentially increasing recidivism risk for vulnerable populations who lack support systems.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14The bill expands protections for indigent defendants by broadening the definition of indigency to include those with household income up to 200% of the federal poverty level who face high basic living costs, and by requiring courts to waive uncollectible LFOs for such individuals. However, the bill does not create new rights—only modifies existing enforcement mechanisms—and does not guarantee access to legal representation or other support services needed to fully benefit.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14While waiving LFOs may reduce barriers to housing for formerly incarcerated people (e.g., avoiding debt-related denials or wage garnishment), the bill does not include housing-specific supports or funding—so the net effect is modest and indirect. Without配套 services, many indigent individuals may still face housing instability post-release due to lack of income or support.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14The bill may improve employment outcomes for people with LFOs by removing debt-related barriers to professional licensing and background checks, but it does not mandate employer protections or job placement services. Any employment gains are likely modest and uneven, as many low-income individuals still face structural barriers unrelated to LFOs.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(3), Sec. 14
Who Is Most Affected
People with criminal LFOs—especially those who are indigent, homeless, or mentally ill—will benefit most. Most outstanding non-restitution LFOs will be waived, reducing debt, preventing wage garnishment, and removing barriers to housing, employment, and treatment. However, those with restitution obligations (e.g., to victims) may still face collection.
Courts and clerks will need to implement administrative processes to identify, review, and waive uncollectible LFOs, and may no longer collect or accrue interest on many types of LFOs. This increases administrative burden without additional funding, potentially straining court operations.
Victims of crime may still receive restitution, but the bill limits enforcement of non-restitution LFOs (e.g., fines, fees), reducing potential compensation from other sources. However, the bill does not affect restitution collection timelines or processes, so most victims' rights remain intact.
Local governments and counties will lose significant revenue from court-imposed fees, fines, and interest—approximately $100M over the biennium—reducing funds for courts, public safety, and community services. However, the state may provide offsetting funding or grants to mitigate impacts.
Collection agencies and debt collectors will see reduced demand for services related to criminal LFOs, as most will be waived. This may reduce profits for firms that rely on court-ordered debt collection, but it also reduces predatory practices targeting vulnerable populations.