SB283
Penalties for failure to appear; contempt.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
Feb. 13, 2026
Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Chief Patron:
Lashrecse Aird (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Penalties for failure to appear; contempt.
Provides that any person (i) charged with a felony offense or misdemeanor offense or (ii) convicted of a felony offense or misdemeanor offense and execution of sentence is suspended who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by no ... (More) more than 30 days in jail. Under current law, such person is guilty of a Class 6 felony, if charged with a felony, or a Class 1 misdemeanor, if charged with a misdemeanor, for such a violation. The bill also defines 'willfully fails to appear' as intentional conduct with a purpose to avoid the judicial process and provides mitigating factors for the court to consider in determining whether a nonappearance was willful. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101354D
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/27/2026 - Senate: Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement From JLARC (1/27/2026 3:08 pm)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107528D-S1
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB283)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
