Committee advances amendment to speed victim restitution timeline to committee of the whole

The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved an amendment to shorten timelines for victim restitution in House Bill 13‑04 and sent the bill as amended to the committee of the whole with a favorable recommendation.

Sponsors said the legislation is a technical fix to make restitution timelines workable for victims and the courts. Representative Froelich introduced Amendment L5, which changes the statutory timelines to 63 days in the restitution provisions discussed in the bill; supporters said the number aligns with court scheduling constraints and reduces the wait victims face for restitution.

Co‑sponsor Representative Soper moved Amendment L005 and, after no objections, the committee adopted it. Supporters said the change came after stakeholder negotiations; Representative Soper said the amendment "brings the term for restitution for victims down to about a hundred and 20 days instead of the hundred and 80 days that was proposed in the bill last week." Sponsors emphasized the work to align statutory language to court practice and asked for a “yes” vote to make restitution timelines workable.

After the amendment phase closed, Representative Massey moved to report House Bill 13‑04 as amended to the committee of the whole with a favorable recommendation; the motion was seconded. The clerk called the roll and the committee approved the motion on a roll call of 10‑0 with one excused member.

Committee members offered few closing comments; sponsors said they would continue to work with stakeholders as the bill moves forward. No amendment to the core policy objective was recorded beyond the L5 timeline adjustment.