An Act to amend and reenact § 17.1-222.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to clerks of circuit court; fees; restitution; online payment systems; report.
Summary
HB1235 amends Virginia law governing how circuit court clerks may collect fees, fines, penalties, support payments, and restitution. The bill keeps the existing authority for clerks to accept non-cash payments by methods authorized under state law, and it adds a specific requirement that if a clerk’s office already uses an online payment system for court fines, fees, or costs, that same system must also be made available for restitution payments. The bill does not require any clerk’s office to create a new online payment platform if one does not already exist.
In addition to the statutory change, the bill directs the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to study accessibility and modernization of court payment systems for transactions in general district and circuit courts. The work group must provide an executive summary and report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill amends § 17.1-222.1 of the Code of Virginia, expanding the practical use of existing online payment systems to include restitution when such systems are already in place. Its effect is to standardize access to online payment options for restitution without imposing a mandate to build new systems, while also launching a statewide study of court payment modernization. The measure affects circuit court clerks, court users who pay fines, fees, costs, or restitution, and the Supreme Court’s administrative office responsible for convening the study group.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It advanced through subcommittee, committee, and floor votes in both chambers unanimously or near-unanimously, including unanimous passage in the House and Senate. The voting history suggests general agreement that the measure is a practical administrative update to court payment procedures.
Contention
No major opposition is reflected in the available record. The only potentially sensitive issue is the scope of the online payment requirement: the bill requires restitution to be offered through an existing online payment system, but it explicitly avoids mandating that clerks create new systems. That limitation likely addresses concerns about cost, implementation burden, and local administrative capacity. The study group requirement may also reflect interest in broader modernization while deferring more extensive changes until recommendations are developed.