Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Administration-Public Defender Services from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

HB 5282 provides a supplemental appropriation of $2.6 million for Public Defender Corporations and $15 million for Appointed Counsel Fees from the unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to the Public Defender Services budget for fiscal year 2026. This funding directly supports West Virginia's public defense system by allocating unused state funds to cover essential legal services for indigent defendants. The bill does not change existing laws but supplements the budget with specific, targeted amounts to ensure public defender operations continue without additional tax revenue.