Establishing a public counsel integrity act.

HB 2263, the Public Counsel Integrity Act, requires all Washington local governments (cities, counties, school districts, etc.) to use their own public attorneys for legal services instead of hiring private law firms. The bill bans contracts with outside counsel for routine legal work, mandates quarterly reporting of all legal spending, and imposes penalties - including personal liability for officials - for violating the ban. Local governments may temporarily use private attorneys only in emergencies with attorney general approval, and must share public counsel resources through interlocal agreements. The law aims to prevent conflicts of interest, protect taxpayer funds, and ensure residents receive conflict-free legal representation.