Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB1592: Public defense services
Status: In committee, February 9, 2026
Concerning public defense services.
What the bill says
An act Relating to public defense services; amending RCW 10.101.050, 10.101.060, 10.101.070, and 10.101.080; adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 2.56 RCW.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to public defense services; amending RCW 10.101.050, 10.101.060, 10.101.070, and 10.101.080; adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 2.56 RCW. Sec. 1. RCW 10.101.050 and 2005 c 157 s 3 are each amended to read as follows: (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, funding responsibility for public defense services shall be shared by the state, counties, and cities. (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the state shall be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of public defense services based on an average of the actual expenditures for public defense services reported, and paid for, by eligible counties for the previous five years looking back from fiscal year 2024. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, eligible counties shall not be responsible for public defense services costs that exceed this five-year average. (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the state shall be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of public defense services based on an average of the actual expenditures for public defense services paid for by eligible cities for the previous five years looking back from fiscal year 2024. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, eligible cities shall not be responsible for public defense services costs that exceed this five-year average. (c) In fiscal year 2026 and thereafter, the state …
Sponsors
- Strom Peterson (D) · primary sponsor
- Sam Low (R)
- Roger Goodman (D)
- Greg Nance (D)
- Lisa Parshley (D)
- Jamila Taylor (D)
- Lillian Ortiz-Self (D)
- Skyler Rude (R)
- Davina Duerr (D)
- Adison Richards (D)
- Mike Steele (R)
- Stephanie Barnard (R)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
- : By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- : Referred to Appropriations.
- : Minority; do not pass.
- : CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, 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.
Votes
- House Committee on Appropriations: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass (February 9, 2026): 29 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (February 19, 2025): 8 yea, 5 nay, passed
Subjects: COUNTIES, COURTS, PUBLIC DEFENSE, OFFICE OF
Common questions
- What is HB1592?
- HB1592 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Public defense services.
- What does HB1592 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to public defense services; amending RCW 10.101.050, 10.101.060, 10.101.070, and 10.101.080; adding a new section to chapter 10.101 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 2.56 RCW.
- What is the status of HB1592?
- In committee as of February 9, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Rules 2 Review. (February 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1592?
- Strom Peterson (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1592?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1592&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.