House debate adds penalties for uncertified bonding companies after members describe case of unmonitored defendants

Lawmakers debated House Bill 5401 on the floor after Representative Robbins described an incident in which a bonding company operating without certification left an estimated 100 defendants without monitoring.

Robbins said the existing statute already requires bonding companies to be registered and certified with SLED and that the bill adds penalties and clarifying language enabling circuit courts to assess sanctions when companies fail to certify or falsify certification. “A bonding company was operating with probably, roughly 100 defendants. They were not certified,” Robbins said, describing how an out-of-state vendor shut off monitoring after not being paid and the solicitor’s office later brought the matter to court.

Representative Williams asked for specifics about the new offenses and how long defendants were unmonitored; Robbins replied he did not know the exact time but estimated it was “probably within a few days to a week,” and described the penalties as misdemeanor-level offenses. Williams said he would request debate; Williams’s request for debate was noted and the House proceeded with the required roll call for second reading on the bill.

Robbins also asked unanimous consent to give the bill a third reading the next day; no objections were raised and the House granted that consent. Members who spoke framed the bill as a targeted fix to provide courts with penalties when bonding companies operate without the required SLED certification.

The bill proceeds to third reading under the expedited schedule adopted on the floor.