Right to Legal Counsel in Risk Protection Order Hearings

Original title: Representation by Counsel in Hearings on Petitions for Risk Protection Orders

March 13, 2026

legal rights risk protection orders indigent defense court procedure attorney compensation

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently Died in Justice Budget Subcommittee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

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The Frame

What this does

This legislation ensures that low-income residents facing court-ordered risk protection proceedings have access to legal counsel, with the state covering costs up to a $1,000 limit per case.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Indigent respondents in risk protection order cases

They gain the right to state-appointed legal counsel during risk protection order proceedings.

Public Defenders

They are authorized to represent respondents in risk protection order cases without additional compensation.

Private court-appointed counsel

Their compensation for representing respondents in these cases is capped at $1,000.

What changed

Current stage: Died in Justice Budget Subcommittee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill establishes that individuals facing a have the right to an attorney and provides for state-funded legal representation if they cannot afford one. It also sets a $1,000 compensation cap for private attorneys appointed to these cases.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have an attorney for a risk protection order hearing?

No, the bill specifies that the proceeding does not require either party to be represented by an attorney, though you have the right to have one.

What happens if I cannot afford an attorney?

If you are determined to be , the court will appoint counsel to represent you.

How quickly will I be notified of a hearing?

The court must order a hearing within 14 days of the petition, and the clerk of court must transmit the notice to law enforcement for service within 6 hours of the order.

Why It Matters

This legislation ensures that low-income residents facing court-ordered risk protection proceedings have access to legal counsel, with the state covering costs up to a $1,000 limit per case.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

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Expansion of Indigent Defense

The bill explicitly expands the mandate of public defenders and regional counsel to include civil risk protection order proceedings, which are traditionally outside their primary criminal scope.

Public Defender Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel