Statement: Both House and Senate Advance Legislation to End Decades-Long Court Debt

Today, Kami Blatt, Decriminalization of Poverty Policy Analyst at The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI), released the following statement following the Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 180, sponsored by Senator Angelia Williams Graves, which would reform the statute of limitations for court debt:

“Today’s vote by the Senate — following earlier success in the House — reflects growing bipartisan recognition that Virginia’s current court debt system needs to work toward resolution, not decades of punishment.

“The legislation creates a uniform 10-year statute of limitations — a widely recognized timeframe used in other states and areas of law. It ensures that once people have resolved their cases and made good-faith efforts to pay, they are not trapped in debt for most of their adult lives.

“For too long, court debt has followed Virginians for up to 30 or even 60 years, making it harder to maintain stable housing, employment, and financial security. A reasonable time limit maintains accountability while giving people a real chance to move forward.

“This reform is the result of years of advocacy from directly impacted community members, legal advocates, and partner organizations across Virginia. The Commonwealth Institute has been proud to work alongside partners to help make sure everyone has the chance to thrive.”

People directly impacted by long-standing court debt say this would make a real difference.

“Adjusting the statute of limitations on old court debt is exactly what my family needs to get back on our feet,” said Reece Neenan of The Humanization Project. “I’ve been in recovery for six years, I help others as a peer recovery specialist, I’ve moved up quickly in my HVAC job, and I’m taking college classes — but the biggest stress in our lives is still garnishment court debt going back to the 1990s that take a quarter of my paycheck. I’m doing everything right now, but this debt still keeps us from getting ahead.”

House Bill 268, sponsored by Delegate Phil Hernandez, is the companion to SB 180, and passed the House of Delegates on February 3. With both chambers advancing these bills, we urge lawmakers to reconcile the remaining differences and send a final bill to the governor that supports stability, economic security, and stronger communities.