Bill > HB2595

This bill extends the time limit for filing a "collateral attack" on a criminal judgment and sentence from one year to three years after the judgment becomes final, provided the judgment is valid on its face and was issued by a court with proper authority. A collateral attack is defined as any legal challenge to a conviction or sentence that is not a direct appeal, such as a personal restraint petition or a motion to withdraw a guilty plea. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections to inform individuals currently serving sentences about this new three-year time limit. Additionally, it allows the Office of Public Defense to directly represent indigent offenders in these collateral attack proceedings, which are legal challenges to a conviction or sentence that occur after the initial appeals process has concluded.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2595&Year=2025&Initiative=false