California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 2605
State Public Defender: county public defenders: data collection.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Arambula (Democratic)
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
- 09/27/26 - Chaptered· Sep 27, 2026
- 08/30/26 - Enrolled· Aug 30, 2026
- 07/02/26 - Amended Senate· Jul 2, 2026
- 05/18/26 - Amended Assembly· May 18, 2026
- 04/08/26 - Amended Assembly· Apr 8, 2026
- 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly· Mar 19, 2026
- 02/20/26 - Introduced· Feb 20, 2026
- AB2605
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 2026 House | AB 2605 Arambula Concurrence in Senate Amendments | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 26, 2026 Senate | 3rd Reading AB2605 Arambula et al. By Cortese | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 13, 2026 Senate | Do pass | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 3, 2026 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set 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] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 17, 2026 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 28, 2026 House | AB 2605 Arambula Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 14, 2026 House | Do pass as amended. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 21, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 15, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 27, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 629, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 27, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 3, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. - Aug 26, 2026 · House
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6651.). - Aug 26, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. - Aug 26, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.). - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13). - Aug 3, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Jul 2, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 1, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 30). - Jun 17, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Jun 10, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and PUB. S. - May 28, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - May 27, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0.) - May 19, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 18, 2026 · House
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. - May 14, 2026 · House
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14). - May 14, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.) - May 13, 2026 · House
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Apr 22, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 22, 2026 · House
Coauthors revised. - Apr 16, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. - Apr 9, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. - Apr 8, 2026 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended. - Mar 23, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. - Mar 19, 2026 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended. - Mar 19, 2026 · House
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and PUB. S. - Feb 21, 2026 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. - Feb 20, 2026 · House
Read first time. To print.