Bill > HB1909

This bill establishes a court unification task force to study and address inefficiencies and inequities within Washington's court system, which currently suffers from disparate local rules, varying technology adoption, and inconsistent funding that create barriers to accessing justice, particularly for vulnerable populations and in rural areas. The task force will be composed of a diverse group of stakeholders, including legislative members, representatives from cities and counties, court clerks, judges, tribal representatives, public defense and legal aid advocates, the bar association, and individuals with lived experience in the court system, and will be co-chaired by the chair of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This task force is empowered to form subcommittees to focus on specific issues like technology, funding, and rural courts, and is required to submit a preliminary report by June 30, 2027, and a final report with proposed solutions and a strategic plan by June 30, 2028, with the entire chapter set to expire on December 31, 2029.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1909&Year=2025&Initiative=false