The bill, S.B. No. 55, amends various articles of the Code of Criminal Procedure to increase the credit defendants receive toward the payment of fines and costs. Specifically, it raises the daily credit for confinement and labor from $100 to $150. This change applies to defendants convicted of misdemeanors or confined for felonies, allowing them to work in county jail industries, workhouses, or on public projects to earn credit against their fines. Additionally, the bill stipulates that defendants will receive credit for any time spent in jail or prison awaiting trial or serving sentences for other offenses, provided that confinement occurred after the misdemeanor was committed.

The bill also standardizes the credit for community service, establishing that defendants will discharge at least $150 of fines or costs for every eight hours of community service performed. These amendments will apply to defendants who are confined or perform labor to discharge fines or costs on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. The changes aim to provide more equitable opportunities for defendants to manage their financial obligations resulting from legal penalties.