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HB5385Introduced in the House

PUBLIC ATTORNEY ASSISTANCE

IntroducedHouse Rules

Introduced by Dave Vella, District 68

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Amends the Public Interest Attorney Assistance Act. Allows a solo practitioner in or employed by a private practice in a county with 20 or fewer attorneys in private practice to be considered a "public interest attorney" who may apply for loan repayment assistance under the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Allows a graduate of a law school located in the State who is a licensed attorney in another state in good standing to be eligible for assistance. Adds as an eligibility requirement that an applicant must not have earned more than $120,000 from the practice of law in the prior 12 months. Raises the maximum amount of assistance to $10,000 (rather than $6,000) per year and $50,000 (rather than $30,000) during a program participant's career. Makes other changes.

Where it stands

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

March 27, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

Bill history

  1. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dave Vella

  2. First Reading

  3. Referred to Rules Committee

  4. Assigned to Appropriations-Higher Education Committee

  5. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

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