AB-1213 • 2026

Restitution: priority.

Crime

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Stefani
Last action: 2025-10-01
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 184, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the amount of restitution or the timeline for payment.

Restitution First Act

This law requires that victims receive restitution before other fines and fees are paid when a person is found guilty of a crime.

What This Bill Does

Requires courts to order convicted defendants to pay full restitution to the victim before all other fines, penalty assessments, and fees.

Who It Names or Affects

Victims of crimes who have suffered economic loss
People found guilty of committing a crime

Terms To Know

Restitution: Money or other things given back to someone after they were hurt by another person's actions.
Convicted defendant: A person who has been found guilty of a crime in court.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the amount of restitution victims will receive.
It is unclear how quickly restitution must be paid under this law.

Bill History

2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 184, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-15 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2911.).
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2389.).
2025-07-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-06-27 California Legislative Information
Ordered to third reading.
2025-06-27 California Legislative Information
From Consent Calendar.
2025-06-24 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1387.)
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23).
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-20 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-19 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1213, Stefani.
Restitution: priority.
The California Constitution entitles the victim of a crime to restitution. Existing law requires the court in each criminal case to order a convicted defendant to pay full restitution to the victim and a separate restitution fine, as specified. Existing law makes a restitution order in a case in which a victim suffered economic loss as a result of the defendant’s conduct, as specified, enforceable as if it were a civil judgment.
This bill, the Restitution First Act, would also require that a restitution order be paid before all fines, restitution fines, penalty assessments, and other fees, as specified.
The bill would also make nonsubstantive, conforming changes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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