Committee backs cleanup to let courts credit compensatory service and treatment against fines with limits

Summary

The Judiciary Committee adopted a third substitute to HB 94 clarifying that courts may allow credit for compensatory service, classes or treatment against mandatory fines at an updated $12/hour rate, with a prosecutor or judge able to deny credit if it would not be in the interest of justice. The measure advanced 8–1.

Representative Brett Miller presented a third substitute to HB 94, described as a cleanup to last year’s court‑fines reform. The substitute clarifies whether judges may apply credit for compensatory service, treatment or classes toward mandatory criminal fines and updates the hourly credit from $10 to $12 to conform with recent statutory changes.

"What this bill proposes is that a credit can be applied towards mandatory fines," Miller said, adding that judges retain discretion and prosecutors may object if credit would not be in the interest of justice.

SWAP and other indigent‑defense advocates testified in support, saying the change helps keep people out of jail for inability to pay. An online commenter raised concerns about a provision allowing a prosecutor to object and block credit in the interest of justice; sponsors said the provision preserves judicial discretion.

The committee adopted the third substitute and voted 8–1 to favorably recommend HB 94 to the full House (one recorded no vote). The bill now moves to the House calendar.