WatchGov

California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 2605

State Public Defender: county public defenders: data collection.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (2)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Under existing law, the board of supervisors of any county may establish the office of public defender for the county and authorize reciprocal or mutual assistance agreements with boards of supervisors of other counties authorizing their respective public defenders to enter into reciprocal or mutual assistance agreements, or authorize reciprocal or mutual assistance agreements with the State Public Defender, if the public defender of the county is unable to perform public defender duties because of, among other reasons, lack of personnel, lack of expertise, or lack of other resources by the local office. Existing law, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, requires the State Public Defender, in consultation with the California Public Defenders Association and other subject matter experts, to undertake a study to assess appropriate workloads for public defenders and indigent defense attorneys and to submit a report with their findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2024. This bill would require the board of supervisors of each county to specify a contact person with the applicable oversight and to collect specified information on public defense services provided in the county, and report that data to the Office of the State Public Defender every 2 years beginning on January 1, 2029. Because the bill would require local officials to perform additional duties, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Office of the State Public Defender to create and post on its internet website a summary report on public defense services, as specified. The bill would make its provisions operative upon appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 26, 2026
House
AB 2605 Arambula Concurrence in Senate AmendmentspassSet your home in California to see
Aug 26, 2026
Senate
3rd Reading AB2605 Arambula et al. By CortesepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
Senate
Do passpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 3, 2026
Senate
Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Jun 30, 2026
Senate
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 17, 2026
Senate
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]passSet your home in California to see
May 28, 2026
House
AB 2605 Arambula Assembly Third ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
House
Do pass as amended.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 21, 2026
House
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Apr 15, 2026
House
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]passSet your home in California to see

Actions