Board of Public Defense funding provided, and money appropriated.
This bill provides funding for Minnesota's Board of Public Defense, which supports public defenders representing low-income individuals who cannot afford legal representation. The legislation appropriates $6.9 million for fiscal year 2026 and $13.7 million for fiscal year 2027 from the state's general fund, with an additional base funding of $183.529 million starting in fiscal year 2028. These funds are intended to supplement existing appropriations and ensure continued financial support for the public defense system. The bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 5, 2026
Last action Mar 18, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Mar 5, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading, referred to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Leigh Finke
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
Bianca Virnig
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
John Huot
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
Kari Rehrauer
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
Mary Clardy
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
MI
María Isa Pérez-Vega
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Co
Pete Johnson
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
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