Senate BillVetoedGovernment
SB 485: County public defender: appointment.
What SB 485 does, verified March 3, 2026
This bill aims to amend the law regarding the appointment and removal of the county public defender. It would allow the board of supervisors to appoint the public defender without needing to serve at their will. The board could only remove the public defender by a 3/5 vote for neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misconduct in office, or other good cause. The bill also addresses reimbursement for costs mandated by the state. If the commission on state mandates determines that the bill contains such costs, reimbursement shall be made pursuant to established statutory provisions.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
✓Second ChamberComplete
5GovernorCurrent
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Veto sustained. (2026-03-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Mar. 02, 2026 | Veto sustained. |
| Mar. 02, 2026 | Stricken from file. |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending. |
| Oct. 13, 2025 | Vetoed by the Governor. |
| Sep. 22, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, September 16, 2025 · 394 words
| Enrolled September 16, 2025 |
| Passed IN Senate September 11, 2025 |
| Passed IN Assembly September 09, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly September 04, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate April 07, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 485
| Introduced by Senator Reyes |
February 19, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 27703 of the Government Code, relating to local government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 27703 of the Government Code is amended to read:27703.
(a) If the public defender of a county is to be appointed, they shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. The public defender of two or more counties shall be appointed by the boards of supervisors of those counties.(b) A public defender appointed pursuant to subdivision (a) may be removed from office by the board of supervisors by a three-fifths vote for neglect of duty, malfeasance or misconduct in office, or other good cause.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section shall not be construed to exempt a public defender from a county’s established performance evaluation process for appointed department heads.
SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.Text of SB 485 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions