Bill > HB2263

This bill, titled the "Public Counsel Integrity Act," aims to ensure that local government legal services are provided by public employees rather than private law firms, citing concerns about excessive spending, conflicts of interest, and a lack of transparency. It defines "legal services" broadly to include all work typically done by an attorney, and "local public entity" as any county, city, town, school district, or other municipal corporation. The core provision prohibits local public entities from contracting with "outside counsel," meaning private attorneys or firms, for legal services, mandating that all such services be handled by "public counsel," which are attorneys employed by or working under agreements between local public entities. While local entities can collaborate through interlocal agreements to share public counsel, payments under these agreements cannot go to private firms. The bill also requires local entities to report all legal expenditures to the state auditor, who will maintain a public database, and allows residents or taxpayers to sue to stop violations, with prevailing plaintiffs receiving attorney fees. The Attorney General will investigate violations and can impose penalties up to three times the improper payment amount. Exceptions for using outside counsel are very limited, requiring a demonstration to the Attorney General that no public counsel is available and that immediate harm would occur if legal services were delayed, with any authorized private representation being temporary and subject to a five-year ban on future contracts with the same entity. The bill also clarifies that it does not affect the constitutional duties of the Attorney General or prosecuting attorneys, nor an individual's right to hire private counsel at their own expense.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2263&Year=2025&Initiative=false