WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION 2SHB 1592

HB 1592: Public defense services

Concerning public defense services.

Summary

  • Reallocates funding responsibility for public defense services between the state and local governments.
  • Provides that the state is responsible for: (1) 50 percent of the five-year average of public defense expenditures paid for by eligible cities and counties; and (2) all public defense services costs of eligible cities and counties in excess of the five-year average.
  • Specifies permitted uses for any county funds supplanted by the reallocation of funding responsibility.
  • Replaces the grants-based distribution of city moneys with a pro rata distribution formula.
  • Permits certain counties to request that the Office of Public Defense provides all or a portion of the public defense services in the county.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1592), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · stalled on the House floor
  1. IntroducedJan 24, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 9, 2026
  3. Passed Housestopped here
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Strom Peterson (D-21)
Introduced
January 24, 2025 in the House
Last action
February 9, 2026
Companion bill
SB 5404
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1592, SHB 1592, 2SHB 1592

AN ACT Relating to public defense services;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Strom Peterson (D-21)

18 co-sponsors (14 Democrats, 4 Republicans)

Sam Low R-39Roger Goodman D-45Greg Nance D-23Lisa Parshley D-22Jamila Taylor D-30Lillian Ortiz-Self D-21Skyler Rude R-16Davina Duerr D-1Adison Richards D-26Mike Steele R-12Stephanie Barnard R-8Darya Farivar D-46Tarra Simmons D-23Janice Zahn D-41Joe Timmons D-42Beth Doglio D-22Gerry Pollet D-46Julia Reed D-36

Votes

No recorded floor votes.

History

  1. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (2SHB 1592)
  2. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (2SHB 1592)
  3. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1592)
  4. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1592)
  5. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (SHB 1592)
  6. APP - Executive action taken by committee.
  7. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  8. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  9. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SHB 1592)
  10. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  11. Referred to Appropriations. (SHB 1592)
  12. Referred to Appropriations.
  13. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1592)
  14. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1592)
  15. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.
  16. Minority; do not pass.
  17. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  18. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

HB 1592 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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