Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5912: Indigent defense task force
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Reinstating the indigent defense task force.
What the bill says
An act Relating to reinstating the indigent defense task force; adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to reinstating the indigent defense task force; adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 10.101 RCW to read as follows: (1) The indigent defense task force created in law through chapter 156, Laws of 1988, and chapter 409, Laws of 1989, is reinstated to study the current system in Washington for providing representation to persons who could not otherwise afford counsel. (2) The members of the task force shall consist (b) The director of the office of financial management or the director's designee; (c) The director of the office of public defense or the director's designee; (d) Three members appointed by the chief justice of the state supreme court, one who is a representative from the superior court judges' association and one who is a representative from the district and municipal court judges' association; (e) Two members appointed by the Washington state bar association, at least one of whom must currently provide indigent criminal defense representation; (f) Two members appointed by the Washington state association of counties, one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington; (g) One member appointed by the association of Washington cities; (h) One member appointed by the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys; (i) Three members …
Sponsors
- Nikki Torres (R) · primary sponsor
- Yasmin Trudeau (D)
- Manka Dhingra (D)
- Perry Dozier (R)
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
- Marcus Riccelli (D)
- Rebecca Saldaña (D)
- Javier Valdez (D)
- Wilson, Claire (D, 30)
- Wilson, Jeff (R, 19)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- : Referred to Appropriations.
- : Minority; without recommendation.
- : CRJ - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Floor amendment
Votes
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary: Do pass (February 25, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 5, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Law & Justice: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5912 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (January 15, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC DEFENSE, OFFICE OF, LOW-INCOME PERSONS
Common questions
- What is SB5912?
- SB5912 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Indigent defense task force.
- What does SB5912 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to reinstating the indigent defense task force; adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5912?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5912?
- Nikki Torres (R), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5912?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5912&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.