HB1445

HB1445 allows the director’s designee in a county’s managed assigned counsel program to receive, approve or reduce appointed lawyers’ payment requests. Previously, the relevant payment provision named the program director, not a designee. This is an administrative delegation change—not a new statewide pay rate, automatic fee increase or requirement that every county create such a program. Final law

Managed assigned counsel programs arrange publicly funded legal representation through appointed attorneys. The existing framework covers criminal cases and can include juvenile cases. Counties without this program continue using the presiding judge under this provision. Code of Criminal Procedure 26.047 and 26.05 · Family Code 51.10, including juvenile appointed-counsel compensation

The designee must follow the same safeguards as the judge or director: itemized services must be submitted and payment approved; a reduction requires written findings identifying the approved amount and each reason for the difference. The existing right to seek review from the administrative region’s presiding judge remains when a request is disapproved or has not been acted on by the 60th day. Local fee schedules, payment obligations and review procedures are not replaced by this delegation.

The act took effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to attorney expenses incurred on or after that date. The trigger is when the expenses were incurred, not simply when an older claim was submitted.