Virginia House Bill 16
Session 2026
Community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated.
Active
Passed House on Feb 6, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
16
State
Virginia
Session
2026
Charlie Schmidt
Cosponsor
Jessica L. Anderson
Cosponsor
Lily V. Franklin
Cosponsor
Stacey Annie Carroll
Cosponsor
Motion Text
H VOTE:
House Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
Charlie Schmidt
Yes
Yes
Ellen H. McLaughlin
Yes
Gretchen M. Bulova
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jessica L. Anderson
Yes
John Chilton McAuliff
Yes
Yes
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie
Yes
Didn't Vote
Kimberly Pope Adams
Yes
Leslie Chambers Mehta
Yes
Lily V. Franklin
Yes
Margaret A. Franklin
Yes
Mark C. Downey
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Stacey Annie Carroll
Yes
Didn't Vote
Summary
A BILL to amend and reenact ยง 19.2-354 of the Code of Virginia, relating to community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated.
Community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs; work performed while incarcerated. Requires a court to establish a program and allow any person upon whom a fine and costs have been imposed to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by earning credits for the performance of community service work or work performed while incarcerated, defined in the bill as any work done on or after July 1, 2023, by a person confined in any penal or corrective institution of the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions who is paid a wage that is less than the Virginia minimum wage.The bill requires such program be available during such person's imprisonment in a local, regional, or state correctional facility. The bill provides that a person who is performing work while incarcerated shall be credited at the same rate as the community service work rate less any wages received. Under current law, a court is required to establish a program for providing an option for community service work in lieu of payment of fines and costs but offering such option is not mandatory. The bill also requires the local, regional, or state correctional facility to provide confirmation of the hours worked and the credits earned for such work upon request of any person who has performed work while incarcerated or his representative.
Courts of Justice Amendment
Engrossed
Criminal Subcommittee Amendment
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16)
Sort by most recent
03/04/2026
Senate
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
02/25/2026
Senate
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
02/16/2026
House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16)
02/09/2026
Senate
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/09/2026
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
02/06/2026
House
Read third time and passed House (72-Y 25-N 0-A)
02/05/2026
House
Engrossed by House as amended
02/05/2026
House
committee amendment agreed to
02/05/2026
House
Read second time
02/04/2026
House
Read first time
02/02/2026
House
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
01/30/2026
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N)
01/29/2026
House
Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
01/28/2026
House
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (19-Y 1-N)
01/26/2026
House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB16)
01/23/2026
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)
01/20/2026
House
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
12/22/2025
House
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
12/22/2025
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102053D
Sources
VA Legislature
Open States
Record Created
Jan 20, 2026 9:25:33 PM
Record Updated
Mar 5, 2026 12:50:36 AM