HB 1592, sponsored by Rep. Strom Peterson (D–Edmonds) seeks to boost public defense funding for counties and has a hearing this week. It also has a companion bill, SB 5404, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D–Tacoma).

This bill shifts a portion (50%) of public defense funding from counties onto the state, aiming to relieve public defense financial pressure on local governments, while ensuring adequate legal representation for indigent defendants.

The bill also would require the state to pay for all of the increased costs due to new caseload limits. The Washington State Supreme Court has not issued its decision on the proposed court rules implementing new caseload limits following last fall’s hearings on the proposed rules.

This Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC)-supported legislation is a good step toward improving access to indigent legal defense services for our communities and addressing concerns about increased costs to local governments if caseload limits are reduced. We are working with the counties and Legislature to expand the bill so that it provides more funding for cities. We encourage cities to support the bill.

Dates to remember

HB 1592 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on February 4 at 10:30 am.