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    AB-1213
    Justice & Public Safety

    Restitution: priority.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires courts to prioritize victim restitution payments before all other criminal fines and fees.
    • Mandates that restitution orders be enforced like civil judgments to ensure victim compensation.
    • Expands the definition of victims eligible for restitution to include family members and affected businesses.
    • Requires defendants to file detailed financial disclosures to help enforce restitution collection.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Stefani's Restitution First Act establishes victim restitution as the highest priority payment obligation for convicted defendants in California. The legislation amends the Penal Code to require that court-ordered restitution be paid before any other fines, penalties, or fees imposed as part of a criminal sentence.

    Under the bill's provisions, restitution orders will be treated as civil judgments and must be satisfied ahead of all other financial obligations, including penalty assessments and statutory fees. The measure maintains existing requirements for courts to order full restitution to victims who suffer economic losses, while adding explicit language about payment priority.

    The legislation defines eligible victims broadly to include immediate family members, businesses and other legal entities directly harmed by crimes, and certain household members and caretakers. It preserves victims' rights to seek compensation from the state Restitution Fund while requiring that any restitution collected from defendants be credited against other judgments for the same losses.

    For implementation, court clerks must notify the California Victim Compensation Board within 90 days when defendants are ordered to pay restitution due to victims receiving compensation from the Restitution Fund. The bill also retains current provisions allowing district attorneys to examine defendants' financial assets for collection purposes.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Senate Floor
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Senate Floor
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 1213 Stefani Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass. To Consent Calendar
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tony StricklandR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 41 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 9
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Tony StricklandR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Benjamin AllenD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Mike McGuireD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Eloise ReyesD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Henry SternD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Josh BeckerD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Marie Alvarado-GilR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Angelique AshbyD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Catherine BlakespearD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Catherine StefaniD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Jerry McNerneyD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Floor Vote

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Catherine Stefani
    Catherine StefaniD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/1/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 10, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6006PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires courts to prioritize victim restitution payments before all other criminal fines and fees.
    • Mandates that restitution orders be enforced like civil judgments to ensure victim compensation.
    • Expands the definition of victims eligible for restitution to include family members and affected businesses.
    • Requires defendants to file detailed financial disclosures to help enforce restitution collection.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Catherine Stefani
    Catherine StefaniD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Stefani's Restitution First Act establishes victim restitution as the highest priority payment obligation for convicted defendants in California. The legislation amends the Penal Code to require that court-ordered restitution be paid before any other fines, penalties, or fees imposed as part of a criminal sentence.

    Under the bill's provisions, restitution orders will be treated as civil judgments and must be satisfied ahead of all other financial obligations, including penalty assessments and statutory fees. The measure maintains existing requirements for courts to order full restitution to victims who suffer economic losses, while adding explicit language about payment priority.

    The legislation defines eligible victims broadly to include immediate family members, businesses and other legal entities directly harmed by crimes, and certain household members and caretakers. It preserves victims' rights to seek compensation from the state Restitution Fund while requiring that any restitution collected from defendants be credited against other judgments for the same losses.

    For implementation, court clerks must notify the California Victim Compensation Board within 90 days when defendants are ordered to pay restitution due to victims receiving compensation from the Restitution Fund. The bill also retains current provisions allowing district attorneys to examine defendants' financial assets for collection purposes.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/1/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Senate Floor
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Senate Floor
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 1213 Stefani Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass. To Consent Calendar
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Public Safety Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 10, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Public Safety Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6006PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tony StricklandR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 41 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 9
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Roger NielloR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Tony StricklandR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Shannon GroveR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Brian JonesR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Benjamin AllenD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Mike McGuireD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Eloise ReyesD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Henry SternD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Monique LimonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Sabrina CervantesD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Bob ArchuletaD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Melissa HurtadoD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Tom UmbergD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Susan RubioD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Lena GonzalezD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Josh BeckerD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Akilah Weber PiersonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Marie Alvarado-GilR
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Angelique AshbyD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Catherine BlakespearD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Steve PadillaD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Catherine StefaniD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Jerry McNerneyD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Floor Vote
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Floor Vote