State Government / California / Legislation / AB 690
Existing law grants a defendant the right to counsel in a noncapital case, and requires a defendant to be represented by counsel in a capital case. Existing law requires specified assigned counsel to receive a reasonable sum for compensation and for necessary expenses, as determined by the court, to be paid out of the general fund of the county. This bill would, commencing with contracts or memoranda of understanding for indigent defense services entered into after January 1, 2028, revise the process and require a county or court, when contracting for the provision or administration of indigent defense services, to include certain elements in the contract or other agreement for indigent services, as specified. The bill would prohibit a county or court from entering into flat fee contracts, as defined, or per case compensation contracts in cases involving the death penalty or the potential sentence of life without the possibility of parole. The bill would require the structure of the contract for indigent defense services to ensure that attorneys have the resources and time necessary to provide competent legal representation. The bill would require counties that contract with a private entity or law firm to provide indigent defense services to provide all those contracts to the Office of the State Public Defender every 2 years. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
Latest development · Sep 8, 2026
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
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Primary sponsors are listed before cosponsors and other sponsoring entities.
Newest action first. Action language is supplied by the state source.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 11.).
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 11.).
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).
In committee: Held under submission.
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 9. Page 1905.)
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (May 23).
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Read second time and amended.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 25).
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.
Read first time. To print.
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