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Committee amends access-to-counsel mandate, extending temporary funding one year
Summary
Senate Bill 154, concerning an access-to-counsel program whose mandate was set to expire after 2027, was amended to extend the fiscal mandate through 2028 and to shift a task force from the Attorney General's office to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
The committee reviewed a reprint of Senate Bill 154, the access-to-counsel program measure. As originally drafted, the bill included a funding mandate of $14 million described in current law as set to expire after 2027. Committee amendments retained the mandate amount but extended the funding period by one year — through fiscal 2028 instead of making the mandate permanent.
The amendment also changes the task force charged with studying the program: responsibility moves from the Office of the Attorney General to the secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), with adjusted membership and a reporting date for recommendations set for January 2026. Staff also indicated a technical change to make the bill's effective date June 1, 2025, rather than a bifurcated effective date shown on an earlier print.
Senators signaled support in committee and the bill was advanced on a voice vote.
Why it matters: Access-to-counsel programs often provide legal assistance in housing or other civil matters; extending the mandate for one year preserves the current funding level in the near term while shifting the coordinating task force and setting a near-term reporting date for recommendations.
