HB 1252 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning pretrial release.

HB 1252 updates Washington's pretrial release rules to require courts to clearly document their reasoning for release decisions, especially when defendants face violent or firearm-related charges, have attempted to evade police, engaged in foot pursuits, or required significant law enforcement resources (like drone or canine teams) for apprehension. The bill mandates judicial officers to provide written release conditions with clear conduct guidelines, explain penalties for violations, and justify why a defendant may be released on personal recognizance or with lower bail than prosecutors recommend. Courts must also specify how public safety and court appearance will be ensured in every release order. These changes apply to all pretrial cases involving adults and juveniles, aiming to increase transparency and consistency in release decisions.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates pretrial release rules to require judges to document specific reasons when releasing defendants on personal recognizance or setting lower bail than requested. It expands the criteria for these decisions to include foot pursuits and violent offenses, adds requirements for monitoring high-risk offenders, and extends similar documentation rules to juvenile cases.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope to include foot pursuits and violent offenses as triggers for stricter bail documentation, adds a new section requiring real-time monitoring for certain violent and sex offenders, and extends the new documentation requirements to juvenile detention cases.

REQUIREMENT

Judges must now document in writing their rationale for releasing defendants on personal recognizance or ordering less bail when the defendant engaged in a foot pursuit, attempted to elude a vehicle, required substantial resources to apprehend, or is charged with a violent or firearms offense.

Monitoring agencies are prohibited from monitoring violent or sex offenders awaiting trial unless the defendant pays bail and the agency provides real-time 24/7 monitoring with immediate law enforcement dispatch for violations.

ADDED

The new bail documentation requirements and foot pursuit triggers were added to the section governing juvenile release and detention.

ELIGIBILITY

The criteria for considering a defendant a flight risk now explicitly includes being charged with a violent offense or an offense relating to firearms.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Community Safety.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors