HB 678 Summary

• Requires state agencies to obtain written Governor approval and make a cost-effectiveness and public interest determination before entering contingency fee contracts with private attorneys.

• Establishes tiered contingency fee caps: 25% on recoveries up to $10 million, declining to 1% on amounts exceeding $50 million.

• Mandates state government attorneys retain complete control, supervisory involvement, and veto power over outside counsel decisions, with settlement authority reserved exclusively to the state.

• Requires private contingency fee attorneys to maintain detailed financial and time records for at least four years after contract termination and make records available for inspection upon request.

• Requires executed contingency fee contracts, written determinations, and contingency fee payments to be posted online for public transparency.