Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.257 · Subchapter F. JUDGMENT, FINES, AND COSTS
WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A municipal court, regardless of whether the court is a court of record, or a justice court may waive payment of all or part of a fine imposed on a defendant if the court determines that:
(1) the defendant:
(A) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine; or
(B) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45A.453(a); and
(2) discharging the fine under Article 45A.254 or as otherwise authorized by this chapter would impose an undue hardship on the defendant.
(b) A municipal court, regardless of whether the court is a court of record, or a justice court may waive payment of all or part of the costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that the defendant:
(1) is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the costs; or
(2) was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45A.453(a).
(c) A defendant is presumed to be indigent or to not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fines or costs for purposes of Subsection (a) or (b) if the defendant:
(1) is in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, or was in the conservatorship of that department at the time of the offense; or
(2) is designated, or was designated at the time of the offense, as a homeless child or youth or an unaccompanied youth, as those terms are defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a.
(d) A determination of undue hardship made under Subsection (a)(2) is in the court's discretion. In making that determination, the court may consider, as applicable, the defendant's:
(1) significant physical or mental impairment or disability;
(2) pregnancy and childbirth;
(3) substantial family commitments or responsibilities, including child or dependent care;
(4) work responsibilities and hours;
(5) transportation limitations;
(6) homelessness or housing insecurity; and
(7) any other factor the court determines relevant.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.45A.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 4cc269fb5e2a6bdac9666faf911a4abe04a31eacc9bae88e19b50103524be9b5
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Cited by 5 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.257. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.15FINES AND COSTS.Printed as Article 43.091 or 45A.257
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 42A.655ABILITY TO PAY.Printed as Article 43.091 or 45A.257
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.251JUDGMENT.Printed as Article 45A.257
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.252SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES TO PAY FINES OR COSTS.Printed as Article 45A.257
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.303DEFERRED DISPOSITION REQUIREMENTS.Printed as Article 45A.257
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.