Appropriation; State Public Defender, Office of.

HB 1763 allocates $4,373,202 for Mississippi's Office of State Public Defender for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 25 permanent staff positions and specifies funding for three assistant public defenders ($446,521), indigent parental representation in custody cases ($422,500), and a youth defender program ($235,926). The bill requires the agency to meet performance targets (e.g., 75% of capital defense cases opened within one year) and report on outcomes to the legislature. It also reappropriates $60,000 for Hinds County Public Defender’s capital expenses and mandates detailed financial reporting.