I'm happy to report that House Bill 1783, as amended, passed out the house on Monday, March 2, with 91 votes for and 7 against. The bill as passed keeps the zero percent interest rate.
Next up is the Washington State Senate. The bill moved to the Senate Law and Justice Committee on March 7. Stay tuned!
The Washington State Legislature is currently in session.
House Bill 1783 "Concerning Legal Financial Obligations" was introduced In the House of Representatives on January 30, 2017. If passed, the original bill would, among other things, remove the 12% interest on non-restitution-related LFOs.
While in the House Judiciary Committee, several revisions were made to the bill, including removal of language providing that a defendant must consent to conversion of unpaid costs to community restitution hours in circumstances where the court is revising LFO requirements based on manifest hardship or an inability to pay. The First Substituted Bill passed out of that Committee on February 16. Next up is the Appropriations Committee with a public hearing on February 22, 2017.
You can see the bill, including text and revisions, move through the State Legislature here.
The Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.