bill capping fines and costs at 5% of monthly income

The text as introduced · 225 words

89R451 CS-D

By: Miles
S.B. No. 1776

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the payment of certain fines and costs by a defendant.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 42.15, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended by adding Subsection (a-3) and amending Subsection (b) to

read as follows:

(a-3) When imposing fines and costs, a court may not require

a defendant to pay more than five percent of the defendant's monthly

income to satisfy the fines and costs, without the agreement of the

defendant.

(b) Subject to Subsections (a-3), (c) , and (d) and Article

43.091, when imposing fines [ a fine ] and costs, a court may direct a

defendant:

(1) to pay the entire amount of fines [ fine ] and costs

when sentence is pronounced;

(2) to pay the entire amount of fines [ fine ] and costs

at some later date; or

(3) to pay a specified portion of the fines [ fine ] and

costs at designated intervals.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a

defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after the effective

date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense is committed

before, on, or after that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.