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House approves higher court security fee after amending $30 proposal to $25
Summary
Representative Hogue’s third substitute for House Bill 371, which redirects and restores county court security reimbursements, passed after floor debate and an amendment to reduce a proposed $30 criminal‑conviction fee down to $25; members discussed historical county/court funding arrangements and fiscal impacts.
Representative Hogue explained third substitute House Bill 371 as a funding mechanism to reimburse counties for court security services and to ensure counties receive money historically dispersed for those services. The sponsor said the substitute restores funding counties need for bailiff and security services and that the funds would be distributed for court security only.
Several members questioned the size and scope of fee increases in the bill. Representative Daniels urged caution about layering fees on criminal defendants and noted that adding fees can produce unintended consequences; he singled out the line raising a fee to $30 as potentially onerous. Representative Ferry and others detailed the bill’s committee history: the fee was proposed at $13 originally, doubled to $26 in committee and later presented in the substitute at $30.
Representative Fairey moved to amend line 21 by striking $30 and inserting $25; the motion carried on the floor. Members also confirmed the fiscal note of approximately $2.2 million in restricted funds tied to the measure and discussed the consequences of not restoring the funding (including potential layoffs). After additional debate and statements of summation, the House voted; third substitute HB 371 received 40 yes votes and 29 no votes and was referred to the Senate.
The record shows the floor adopted the $25 amendment and approved third substitute HB 371; transcript excerpts note the fiscal note and the counties’ ongoing role in providing security.
