Board keeps 2027 fees unchanged for limited-practice officers and limited-license legal technicians

At a board meeting, members voted to maintain the 2027 license fees for limited-practice officers and limited-license legal technicians and to ask staff to clarify fee-setting language in the next court order.

The item, presented from the Budget and Audit Committee and listed on page 526 of the meeting materials, would keep the current 2027 license rates in place. A board member emphasized that "this is not an increase in fees this year," and staff said the fee was calculated based on cost.

Board members discussed a suggestion from Jordan that future fee adjustments be tied to a cost-of-living adjustment. Staff said that, while that change would be considered for next year, adopting a COLA linkage now would be impractical and they planned to queue a formal recommendation for the Budget and Audit Committee.

A board member noted a recent court order approving only the fee for the year and said the board needed to act to ensure continuity; staff asked that the next order explicitly state that the fee is maintained until the board adopts a change.

An unnamed board member moved to approve the item as proposed; the motion was seconded by Emily Arneson. The board took a roll call vote during which several members vocalized "aye" or "yes." The clerk declared the motion passed unanimously. The roll call transcript, however, records one exchange in which Mary said "No," an apparent inconsistency with the chair's announcement that the motion carried unanimously.

Treasurer Nam Nguyen was noted as available to present on the item. Board members did not approve any fee increase for 2027 and directed staff to prepare a fee-setting policy and proposed language for the next court order clarifying the status of approved fees.

The board moved on to other business after the vote.