H.B. 513 Attorney General Funding Amendments

What this bill does

The bill creates a Legal Services Retainer Fund where agencies deposit money to pay the Attorney General's office for legal work, with yearly amounts set in advance through agency and Attorney General meetings. It also creates a Public Policy Defense Program to pay costs of defending the state in certain civil lawsuits.

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Every vote

• 6 yes, 0 no, 5 absentHouse Revenue and Taxation Committee: Amendment Recommendation · Feb 18, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 5 absentHouse Revenue and Taxation Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 18, 2026Who voted how
• 64 yes, 2 no, 9 absentFinal House vote · Feb 26, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absentSenate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 3, 2026Who voted how
• 27 yes, 0 no, 2 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 6, 2026Who voted how
• 23 yes, 0 no, 6 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 6, 2026
• 60 yes, 1 no, 14 absentHouse vote to accept the other chamber's changes · Mar 6, 2026

Hearings and debates

• Feb 18, 2026 House Revenue and Taxation Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (20 turns)

  1. Committee chair35:35

     we'll soon be there. So, uh, we're just going to jockey our agenda a little bit. We're gonna go to item five, HB five 13, attorney General Funding Amendments. Uh, Representative Peterson had a leadership meeting, so we're gonna try to accommodate him because it's a quick bill we're told. So, and I think you have one amendment, is that correct?

  2. Rep. Val L. Peterson35:58

     Okay. The time is yours. Thank You, Mr. Chair. So, uh, what this bill does is create funding stability for the Attorney General's office and the legislature by recognizing ongoing legal, uh, fees up front. And it's really about creating greater collaboration between the agencies and the Attorney General's office, where they would have a pre-meeting where they determine what the legal costs are gonna be for that agency. And then it creates a, uh, fund called the, the Legal Services Retainer Fund, where those funds would be deposited into. And the reason for that is 'cause oftentimes legal fees and the, and the money that they're getting to do their legal work gets commingled with their departmental money. And so this would preserve that money so that they know exactly what the purpose of those funds are, especially in the legislatures taking money and putting them into them as we've been doing into the, as we've been working the ISF funds, the internal service funds. So, uh, they would meet, they would, uh, basically, uh, establish what the amount of funds are. Uh, this also allows the money, uh, uh, allows the, the state to recognize what those costs truly are and, uh, place those funds in that budget. And then it also creates the Public Policy Defense Program, which is to pay costs for defending the state and civil litigation that meets a specified criteria. So those are the two funds. So, as I said, this is really about creating greater communication between the Attorney General's office and their agency clients, and to make sure that, uh, we are understanding what the costs are for legal services. And that's my presentation, Mr. Chair.

  3. Committee chair37:35

     Okay. Uh, thank you, representative. Uh, we'll open it up to committee discussion. Representative Christofferson.

  4. Rep. Kay J. Christofferson37:46

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, it looks like the amendment, uh, uh, just changes the name of the fund to the expendables, uh, special Revenue Fund and start the legal

  5. Rep. Val L. Peterson37:59

     Right. That's, that's a technical change. And that actually came from the Department of Finance. So we said we would make it, uh, follow their processes. And, and that's, that's just a, a revolving fund where you put it in there and it, it, uh,

  6. Rep. Kay J. Christofferson38:16

     it remains in there from year to year, right?

  7. Rep. Val L. Peterson38:18

     Correct. And that, and those legal funds just stay within that fund. They're not, the department can't use 'em for other things. It's just for legal services.

  8. Rep. Kay J. Christofferson38:26

     Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

  9. Committee chair38:30

     Um, see no further lights. We'll go to the public for comment. Is there anybody here wishing to testify on this bill? Four, five. Just kidding. Okay. Is there anybody online? Okay. Nobody online. Uh, we will close public comment then and bring it back to the committee for further discussion or action.

  10. Committee chair38:58

      Representative Nen,

  11. Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox39:01speaker not certain

      Do we have to adopt the amendment or? Yes. Can I make a motion to adopt the amendment for HB five 13 Amendment one?

  12. Committee chair39:08

      Okay, that's an order. Um, go to the sponsor to respond.

  13. Rep. Val L. Peterson39:13

      Uh, just does what I said. So, uh, just changes the name of the fund.

  14. Committee chair39:17

      Okay. Thank you. Any discussion to the motion? Seeing none. All in favor? Adopting amendment number one to HP five 13. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That passes unanimously. Your microphone's still on.

  15. Rep. Doug Fiefia39:35speaker not certain

      I move that we favorably recommend HB five 13 as amended. Would you like to speak to that? I'll Waive Okay. To the sponsor. Waive waive.

  16. Committee chair39:45

      Seeing no further lights, uh, chair, replace the motion to, uh, give HP five 13 as amended a favorable recommendation. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Chair rules that passage unanimously and I'll confirm that we exactly have quorum. Is that correct? Okay. True. Lucky day.

  17. Unknown speaker40:05speaker not certain

      Congratulations. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Appreciate It. Okay. Yeah. Thank you.

  18. Committee chair40:09

      Okay, we'll move to item number one. Actually, we will take a break to adopt the minutes, uh, from the minutes from February 13th, 2026. Look for a motion Representative. Koford.

  19. Rep. Jill Koford40:27

      So move. Okay. All in favor of adopting the February 13th.

  20. Committee chair40:30

      2026 minutes. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Chair rules. That passes unanimously. All right.

• Feb 24, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (4 turns)

  1. Meeting clerk1:02:26

     matter. Meeting clerk House Bill five 13 Attorney General funding amendments by representative Val Peterson. On one second. This bill was heard in revenue and taxation with the vote of 6 0 5.

  2. Speaker (presiding)1:02:37

     Representative Bolinder. Motion to circle

  3. Rep. Bridger Bolinder1:02:40

     Motion is to circle. Would

  4. Speaker (presiding)1:02:41

     you like to speak to it? Uh, Sponsors off the floor. Thank you Representative Peterson. The motion is to circle all in favor say aye. That was sick. Okay. All opposed say no. Motion carries the bill. As circled matter. Meeting clerk

• Feb 26, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Rep. Val L. Peterson57:30

     and make a motion to encircle house bill five 13.

  2. Speaker (presiding)57:34

     Thank you Representative Peterson. That motion is an order. We'll go ahead and place the motion, the motion before us to house UNC encircle HB five 13. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes the Bill Uncircled and before the body for its, uh, consideration to you Representative Peterson for, uh, presentation. Thank

  3. Rep. Val L. Peterson57:52

     You Mr. Speaker. I'd make a motion that we substitute house bill five 13 with first substitute house bill five 13

  4. Speaker (presiding)58:02

     On just a second representative. I don't know if we have that first. We don't have that first substitute, uh, Representative Peterson. Uh, maybe we're gonna have to come back to that for just a minute. Let's go to Representative Bo, representative Daley Provo to circle it and then we'll come back to it when we get that. Uh, first sub representative Daley Provo. Motion to circle. Thank you representative. The motion before is the House circle HB five 13. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Rule That motion passes the bills uncircled or our bills circled. Let's go to Madam Reading Clerk

  5. Reading Clerk58:40

     First substitute House bill 2 57

• Feb 26, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (10 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)1:04:14

     Thank you representative. Let's try this again. The motion before is the house UNC encircle HB five 13. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will that motion passes the bills Uncircled and before the body for its consideration.

  2. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:04:27

     Back to your Representative Peterson. Thank You Mr. Speaker. I make a motion to substitute house bill five 13 with first substitute house Bill five 13.

  3. Speaker (presiding)1:04:35

     Thank you representative. That motion is in order. Would you like to speak to it?

  4. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:04:38

     Yeah. So, uh, what this does is, uh, creates a legal services retainer fund for the Attorney General's office and it creates a process whereby the, uh, agencies and uh, state government can make a contract essentially with the Attorney General's Office for legal services.

  5. Speaker (presiding)1:05:01

     Thank you representative. Uh, discussion to the motion to adopt first substitute on HB five 13. Will go ahead and place the motion. The motion before is the house adopt first substitute HB five 13. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed for that? Motion passes the bill substitute for the body for its consideration. Back to your Representative Peterson.

  6. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:05:22

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. So this would, uh, basically replace the internal service funds that we currently use to, uh, work with the agencies and the Attorney General's office. And what would happen is is that the 1st of October, the agencies would sit down with the Attorney General's office, they would outline, uh, what they would need for legal services during the year. Uh, that would be, uh, evaluated and then, uh, uh, a request would go to the legislature to fund those legal services. After the session, before the start of the fiscal year, the ags office would literally sit down and, uh, write a written agreement for the legal services that they're going to do, uh, during the year and the amount of money that is needed to do it. Once they have signed that agreement, money would be transferred in to those fund accounts and, uh, then, uh, that money would be set aside for those services instead of being co-mingled within the agency's accounts. And the, uh, the Attorney General's office then would serve litigation matters, uh, throughout the year with those funds. And, uh, that's my presentation. Mr. Speaker.

  7. Speaker (presiding)1:06:30

     Thank you Representative Peterson. Discussion to the bill. Any none. Back to Representative Peterson for summation.

  8. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:06:38

     Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this is really to make sure that, uh, as we are dealing with legal matters, that there's enough money, uh, in the funds to cover the legal services that are needed as we, uh, start to see more issues, uh, that make their way to the courts or that, uh, agencies need to be serviced. And I urge your support for this new process.

  9. Speaker (presiding)1:06:58

     Thank you. Representative Peterson voting will now be open on first substitute HB five 13 representatives. We're gonna start picking up the pace a little bit so we're not here all night. So let's vote quickly. You're not quick to vote and you're not in here paying attention, then you're not gonna get a chance to vote. So thank you. All present. Having voted voting is now closed for substitute HB five 13 passes this body of 64 yes. Votes to no votes will be sent to the Senate for its consideration. Let's go to Representative Walter.

  10. Speaker (presiding)1:07:46

      Thank you representative. That motion is in order. We'll go ahead and place the motion, the motion before us the house.

• Feb 26, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (13 turns)

  1. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:04:29

     You Mr. Speaker. I make a motion to substitute house bill five 13 with first substitute house Bill five 13.

  2. Speaker (presiding)1:04:35

     Thank you representative. That motion is in order. Would you like to speak to it?

  3. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:04:38

     Yeah. So, uh, what this does is, uh, creates a legal services retainer fund for the Attorney General's office and it creates a process whereby the, uh, agencies and uh, state government can make a contract essentially with the Attorney General's Office for legal services.

  4. Speaker (presiding)1:05:01

     Thank you representative.

  5. Speaker (presiding)1:05:03

     Uh, discussion to the motion to adopt first substitute on HB five 13. Will go ahead and place the motion. The motion before is the house adopt first substitute HB five 13. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed for that? Motion passes the bill substitute for the body for its consideration.

  6. Speaker (presiding)1:05:20

     Back to your Representative Peterson.

  7. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:05:22

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. So this would, uh, basically replace the internal service funds that we currently use to, uh, work with the agencies and the Attorney General's office. And what would happen is is that the 1st of October, the agencies would sit down with the Attorney General's office, they would outline, uh, what they would need for legal services during the year. Uh, that would be, uh, evaluated and then, uh, uh, a request would go to the legislature to fund those legal services. After the session, before the start of the fiscal year, the ags office would literally sit down and, uh, write a written agreement for the legal services that they're going to do, uh, during the year and the amount of money that is needed to do it. Once they have signed that agreement, money would be transferred in to those fund accounts and, uh, then, uh, that money would be set aside for those services instead of being co-mingled within the agency's accounts. And the, uh, the Attorney General's office then would serve litigation matters, uh, throughout the year with those funds. And, uh, that's my presentation. Mr. Speaker.

  8. Speaker (presiding)1:06:30

     Thank you Representative Peterson. Discussion to the bill. Any none. Back to Representative Peterson for summation.

  9. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:06:38

     Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this is really to make sure that, uh, as we are dealing with legal matters, that there's enough money, uh, in the funds to cover the legal services that are needed as we, uh, start to see more issues, uh, that make their way to the courts or that, uh, agencies need to be serviced. And I urge your support for this new process.

  10. Speaker (presiding)1:06:58

      Thank you. Representative Peterson voting will now be open on first substitute HB five 13 representatives. We're gonna start picking up the pace a little bit so we're not here all night. So let's vote quickly. You're not quick to vote and you're not in here paying attention, then you're not gonna get a chance to vote. So thank you. All present. Having voted voting is now closed for substitute HB five 13 passes this body of 64 yes. Votes to no votes will be sent to the Senate for its consideration.

  11. Speaker (presiding)1:07:39

      Let's go to Representative Walter.

  12. Rep. R. Neil Walter1:07:43

      Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move that we encircle house Bill five 14.

  13. Speaker (presiding)1:07:46

      Thank you representative. That motion is in order. We'll go ahead and place the motion, the motion before us the house.

• Mar 3, 2026 Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Committee chair (presiding)1:06:46

     first substitute House Bill five 13 Attorney General funding Amendments. Representative Peterson, you've been very patient and it looks like that you might need to move a substitution on this one. Should be, uh, should be first substitute House bill five. That's what we got. But I have note that you do have a third one. I Have a Okay, then we need to move the third one too. It's on the other bill. I was gonna say, I thought the third one was on 5 45. Well, I have it on both so it could be a mistake. Well, if you have it on both, if there's a substitute, make sure we move it. 'cause I need it then. Let's See. There isn't, there's just a, okay. Okay. Let's just talk to the first substitute then. Thank

  2. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:07:25

     You Mr. Chair. So, uh, what, uh, first substitute House Bill five 13 does is currently we fund, uh, our ag services for our agencies through the internal service fund process. And what this does is create a new process where we would have a legal retainer services fund. And so, uh, each year the Attorney General's office would sit down with the agency the 1st of October to look at their, um, agency needs for legal services. They would, uh, develop, uh, what they think those costs are going to be. And then, uh, they would abdicate for additional funds if they need additional funds or if they have litigation that might be coming, that would then, uh, proceed through the session. And then once, uh, they went through the session and money was either set aside or they had their, the funds that they had from their internal service funds, those would be deposited into the account and there would be a service agreement signed between the Attorney General's office and the agencies. And so what this does is, is to a, make it so, um, they're not co-mingling their funds that have been set aside specifically for, uh, the, the Attorney General's office to, to provide legal services and to keep those separate. And then to make sure that we're funding, uh, the different services that we need, such as litigation or, uh, additional funds that the agency would need to set aside. And with that, that's the bill. Mr. Chair,

  3. Unknown speaker1:08:48speaker not certain

     I can't understand this. This sounds more like a business plan. Well, uh, It's a great novel idea. I think they run it like a business.

  4. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:08:56

     Yeah. That's the intent is to try to make sure that we're, uh, understanding exactly what the legal services needs are and that we're funding those at the appropriate levels.

  5. Committee chair (presiding)1:09:06

     Okay. Any other questions for the sponsor? Seeing none, let's go to the public for comment on this piece of legislation. Anyone in the room? Well, I guess you've done a good job. So we will close public comment, come back for further consideration. Senator Vickers. Thank

  6. Sen. Evan J. Vickers1:09:30

     You, Mr. Chair. I would make a motion that we favorably recommend for substitute Hospital five 13

  7. Committee chair (presiding)1:09:36

     Discussion to that motion back to the sponsor for summation.

  8. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:09:41

     Yeah, I just think this is a common sense approach to make sure we're appropriately funding the legal services needed for the state.

  9. Committee chair (presiding)1:09:46

     Alright, back to Senator Vickers.

  10. Sen. Evan J. Vickers1:09:49

      Uh, I appreciate the work.

  11. Committee chair (presiding)1:09:51

      Okay. All those in favor of first substitute house bill five 13 out favorably say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That is unanimous. Alright.

• Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Rep. Val L. Peterson2:09:47

     Thank you Mr. President Pro TEM HB 2 5 13 establishes a new process for state agencies to pay for legal services provided by the Ag G'S office. This would re replace the current ISF process By October 1st of each year, the Ag G'S office and each agency will jointly agree to retainer amount for the upcoming fiscal year. The retainer is estimated is is the estimated cost of the agency's legal services for the year. Retainers will be incorporated into the gov Governor's proposed budget. The legislature will appropriate the retainers to, to the agencies after session and before the start of each fiscal year, the ags office and each agency will enter into a written service level agreement that sets that agreement on rates scope work in financial controls. And that's what the bill does. This is kind of a long time, time coming and we're just, we, we've got a new ag that's doing a lot of work and he's, he's putting a really good process in place. And I'm open for questions.

  2. Senate presiding officer2:10:41

     Thank you for that presentation discussion to the bill. Be awesome. There's none. So Senator McHale back chief for summation or a motion.

  3. Sen. Michael K. McKell2:10:49

     Thank you. I'm gonna waive summation and move this bill pass.

  4. Senate presiding officer2:10:54

     And the question is, under suspension of the rules shall first substitute House Bill five 13 pass. Roll call vote. Senator Vickers. Baldy Aye. Lewin Aye. Bramer Bus Amore. Escamilla Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper Aye. Hankins Ipson Johnson. Aye. Quan McKay? Aye. Mikel Milner. Milner Aye. Musman Owens pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers Weiler Wilson Winterton cu Moore Aye. President Adams First substitute house Bill five 13. Having received 2078 votes and zero nay votes, two being absent passed to the Senate, be returned to the house for the signature. Simon President ProAm. Return to the house for the signature of the speaker.

  5. Senate presiding officer2:12:12

     Senator Musselman.

  6. Senate presiding officer2:12:26

     Discussion of that motion saying none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passes. The bill is UNC circled.

• Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Senate President (presiding)4:30

     Senator Macal.

  2. Sen. Daniel McCay4:31speaker not certain

     Senator Macal. Thank you. Our move to amend amendment number one on my name. That's online.

  3. Senate President (presiding)4:36

     Thank you. Motion to amend is an order. Go ahead.

  4. Sen. Daniel McCay4:38speaker not certain

     We take a and and change it to an or It's a one word amendment that I inadvertently left out.

  5. Senate President (presiding)4:44

     Alright. Do we have discussion seen on all in fa in favor of the motion to amend say aye. A Aye. Any opposed? Will that motion passes First substitute house bill five 13.

  6. Senate President (presiding)4:55

     Oh, I need a, I need a motion on it then.

  7. Sen. Michael K. McKell4:57

     Yeah. I move that this bill passed.

  8. Senate President (presiding)4:59

     Thank you. And the question is, shall first substitute House Bill five 13 pass under suspension The rules roll call vote.

  9. Senate clerk5:06

     Senator Vickers Baldy. A Lewin Brammer Bus Comore Escamia Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper Kinins Ipson Johnson. Quan McKay Mikel Milner Aye. Musselman Owens Cher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers Aye. Weiler Wilson Winterton. President Adams Aye. First substitute House Bill five 13.

  10. Senate President (presiding)5:47

      Having received 23 yay votes, zero nay votes. Six being absent passes this body and will be, uh, returned to the house for further consideration. Uh, first substitute Senate bill 1 97. I'm on the concurrence calendar. So first substitute Senate Bill 1 97. First substitute Senate Bill 1 97, transportation Funding and Governance Amendments. Senator Harper. Senator

  11. Sen. Wayne A. Harper6:10

      Harper. Thank you. Motion to Concur. Uh, go ahead and explain the changes.

• Mar 6, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (4 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)1:18:11

     For substitute house Bill five 13 Attorney General funding amendments by representative Val Peterson, Representative Val Peterson, Senate Amendments.

  2. Speaker (presiding)1:18:22

     Thank you representative. That motion is in order. Uh, would you like to speak to it?

  3. Rep. Val L. Peterson1:18:26

     Yeah. So it uh, changes the name of the fund to the Legal Services retainer fund and on line 5 0 8 that changes an and to an or which broadens that piece a little bit. And that's what this bill does. Thank

  4. Speaker (presiding)1:18:36

     You representative Discussion to the motion to concur with Senate Amendment on first substitute HB five 13. All in favor or discussion to that motion number will go ahead and place the motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will that motion passes? Voting will now be open for final passage on first steps due HP five 13. Let's vote quickly. Representatives Ivory Representative Libe Barlow Seeing all President having voted voting is now closed for substitute HB five 13 passed this body with 60 s votes. One no vote will be sent to the Senate for the signature of the president. Madam Meeting Clerk