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Public defenders press for COLA in SF 4154; committee lays bill over pending finance direction

Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee · March 24, 2026

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Summary

Board of Public Defense representatives described recruitment and retention problems and requested modest cost‑of‑living adjustments; the Judiciary Committee heard testimony but laid SF 4154 over pending guidance from the finance committee.

Senate file 4154, sponsored by the Board of Public Defense, was presented to request modest cost‑of‑living adjustments for public defenders (1.25% in 2026 and 1.75% in 2027). Kevin Kyer, chief administrator for the Board of Public Defense, said nearly all of the board’s budget is personnel and that pay increases are necessary to retain attorneys who are facing heavy caseloads and recruitment pressure.

Supporters from the public‑defender ranks described the practical effects of past funding increases in drawing attorneys back to public defense and urged the committee to preserve progress. "If we can't secure a cost of living adjustment this biennium, these employees will have gone a total of three years without raises," Laurel O'Rourke, a line public defender, told the committee.

Committee members agreed to lay the bill over until the finance committee clarified how budget proposals will be handled this year; testimony was recorded for the record while the bill awaits further fiscal direction.