SB-485 • 2026

County public defender: appointment.

Education

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Reyes
Last action: 2026-03-02
Official status: Veto sustained.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide information about hiring or payment changes for public defenders.

Changing Rules for Firing Public Defenders

This law changes how county boards of supervisors can remove public defenders from their jobs, requiring a 3/5 vote for specific reasons.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rules for removing an appointed public defender in a county.
Requires that to fire an appointed public defender, at least three out of five board members must agree for neglect of duty, malfeasance or misconduct in office, or other good cause.

Who It Names or Affects

County boards of supervisors
Public defenders in counties

Terms To Know

public defender: A lawyer paid by the government to help people who can't afford a lawyer.
board of supervisors: The group that makes decisions for a county, like city council but for larger areas.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill was vetoed by the governor and the veto has been sustained.
It is not clear if there will be any changes to how public defenders are hired or paid other than firing rules.

Bill History

2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Veto sustained.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Stricken from file.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by the Governor.
2025-09-22 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2899.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 62. Noes 12. Page 3074.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-10 California Legislative Information
June 18 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and PUB. S.
2025-05-08 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-08 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 1050.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-06 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.
2025-04-25 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 5.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 841.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-04-03 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 637.) (April 2).
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 2.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and PUB. S.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 485, Reyes.
County public defender: appointment.
Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of a county to establish the office of public defender for the county. Existing law requires that a public defender of the county serve at the board of supervisors’ will if the public defender is to be appointed.
This bill would instead only allow the board of supervisors to
remove an appointed public defender from office by a
3
/
5
vote for neglect of duty, malfeasance or misconduct in office, or other good cause.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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