WA SB5914

Washington State Office of Public Defense will disburse funds to counties and cities, with state funding phased in from 10% of public defense costs in fiscal year 2027 to 30% by fiscal year 2031 and thereafter

Counties and cities must require public defense attorneys to attend annual training approved by the Office of Public Defense and demonstrate compliance with Washington Supreme Court standards for indigent defense

Public defense attorneys must record and report time spent and type of activity per case to their administrator, with the Washington State Bar Association and Office of Public Defense publishing time tracking guidelines

The Office of Public Defense will calculate annual public defense costs based on a two-year average of actual expenditures reported by counties and cities

Fund distribution policies must prioritize counties with the largest criminal public defense backlogs and most public defender vacancies