This bill creates a new statutory section in chapter 10.101 RCW that reinstates an indigent defense task force originally created by laws in 1988 and 1989. The task force is charged with studying Washington’s system for providing representation to people who cannot afford counsel and must report its findings to the governor, the Washington State Supreme Court, and appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 2028. The report must describe and compare delivery models, evaluate progress toward adopted indigent defense caseload standards, identify barriers, examine delays and backlogs, assess workforce needs, review alternative delivery systems and practices that may reduce unnecessary filings, analyze funding sources, review available data sets, and recommend changes to system, funding, and data reporting. The office of public defense will provide staff support and the office’s director or designee will convene the first meeting. The task force must choose cochairs and at least one cochair must be an active member in good standing of the Washington State Bar or a person authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to engage in full practice of law. Appointing authorities include the governor, the chief justice, the Washington State Bar Association, the Office of Financial Management, the Association of Washington Cities, the Washington State Association of Counties, the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Administrative Office of the Courts, county clerks, and representatives of judicial associations; the report recipients also include the governor and the state supreme court. The bill sets reimbursement rules (members who are elected officials or representing employers or entities are not entitled to travel reimbursement; other members’ reimbursement is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW), allows the task force to contract for technical expertise only if a specific appropriation is provided, and makes the section expire on June 30, 2029. This is an administrative and procedural change establishing a temporary study body and reporting requirement, not a criminal or penalty change. The text does not specify the new section number in chapter 10.101 RCW, the specific caseload standards or where they are codified, appointment timelines or term lengths, quorum or meeting frequency, or detailed funding mechanisms beyond the appropriation requirement.

If enacted, the state will stand up a temporary, state-supported task force staffed by the Office of Public Defense to examine how legal representation is provided to people who cannot afford counsel and to deliver a detailed report by January 1, 2028. The Office of Public Defense will spend staff time and the director will convene the first meeting; appointed members from the governor, courts, bar, counties, cities, prosecutors, judges, clerks, and underrepresented people with lived experience will need to participate (with travel reimbursement limited for those representing employers or who are elected), and jurisdictions and public defense offices across Washington should expect to be reviewed and asked for information. The practical near-term effects are increased workload and modest costs for the Office of Public Defense and for appointed participants’ time and travel, while the task force’s findings and recommendations are likely to influence future decisions about caseload standards, funding levels, workforce needs, and data reporting for public defense—changes that could shift county and state funding responsibilities or operational practices. Key implementation details remain unclear from the text provided, including appointment timelines, exact caseload standards referenced, and whether additional expert contracts will be funded.