The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama HB 481 gives crime victim restitution priority over all court fines and fees
Last action · March 5, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarSponsor: Chris England
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What This Bill Would Do
Criminal payments ordered by a court must be paid and collected before any other fines, court costs, or fees associated with a criminal case, effective October 1, 2026.
Criminal defendants making court-ordered payments will have their contributions directed to crime victims before state or local fees and fines can be satisfied.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
defendants in criminal cases
Must satisfy victim restitution before paying any other fines, court costs, or fees.
victims of criminal activity
Receive priority for payment of pecuniary damages and restitution from offenders.
circuit clerks
Responsible for collecting and processing court-ordered payments under the new priority order.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a criminal defendant owes both court fees and victim restitution?
Who qualifies as a victim under this bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 5, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Mar 4, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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