WA HB1956

Office of Public Defense must administer a training program for public defense mitigation specialists and paralegals new to the field, covering public defense standards, client communication, and ethics, with at least one class of each offered by June 30, 2027

Training program recruitment must include outreach to justice-impacted and formerly incarcerated persons

Office of Public Defense must establish a paralegal pool of at least 10 full-time paralegals by June 30, 2027 to provide as-needed support to contracted counsel

Paralegal pool support prioritizes solo practitioners, very small private law firms, and attorneys providing postconviction representation

Act takes effect July 1, 2026