Criminal fees

The law removes charges tied to criminal cases, incarceration, community service, juvenile cases, and certain traffic-court payment plans. It also requires courts to vacate the portions of judgments based on the covered unpaid costs.

What the law does ​

• Makes specified outstanding court-imposed costs unenforceable and uncollectible on January 1, 2027, and requires related judgment amounts to be vacated.
• Bars trial court filing fees and incarceration-related costs for people sentenced to state prison or held in county jail for their underlying conviction.
• Prohibits counties, cities, and contractors from charging fees for court-ordered community service, including service used instead of fines because of financial hardship.
• Repeals authority for specified juvenile-court fees and removes fees related to temporary release, live-animal-market violations, and certain probation and detention matters.
• Cancels unpaid traffic-school installment-plan fees and traffic amnesty-program administrative fees beginning January 1, 2027.

Who it affects ​

• People facing criminal charges or convictions who owe covered court costs or administrative fees.
• Incarcerated people who otherwise would be charged trial court filing or incarceration-related costs.
• People completing court-ordered community service or educational programs.
• Youth and families subject to specified juvenile-court fees.