Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 1119: Concerning supervision compliance credit.

HB 1119 modifies the rules for offenders to earn supervision compliance credit while under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. The bill simplifies the criteria, allowing offenders to earn 10 days of credit per month based solely on compliance with their supervision terms, as determined by the department. It also establishes that offenders will lose the ability to earn future supervision compliance credits if sanctioned by a court for noncompliance with community custody requirements. Additionally, the bill expands the categories of offenders who are not eligible for this credit, such as those with indeterminate sentences subject to parole.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSimplifies compliance credits to incentivize adherence, reducing recidivism through rehabilitation-focused correctional oversight95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 1131: Concerning clemency and pardons.

HB 1131 updates state laws regarding clemency, pardons, and the supervision of individuals by the Department of Corrections. The bill clarifies the department's responsibilities for supervising individuals on probation or community custody, including those convicted of specific offenses or identified as high-risk. It explicitly mandates departmental supervision for individuals granted conditional clemency by the governor, provided a term of community custody is included in the commutation conditions. Additionally, the legislation consistently replaces the term "offenders" with "individuals" throughout the relevant statutes governing supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies Department of Corrections' supervision duties for clemency recipients, aligning with criminal justice reform goals by enhancing post-release oversight and rehabilitation pathways.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1811: Enhancing crisis response services through co-response integration and support.

Substitute House Bill 1811 aims to enhance crisis response services in Washington state by integrating and supporting "co-response" teams. The bill formalizes co-response as a multidisciplinary partnership between first responders (like law enforcement and EMTs) and human services professionals (such as social workers and behavioral health clinicians). These teams respond to emergency situations, including 911 and 988 calls, involving behavioral health crises and complex medical needs. The goal is to de-escalate situations, divert individuals from the criminal justice system, and provide immediate medical and behavioral health care in the field, benefiting vulnerable populations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces police-only crisis response with co-response teams (social workers + EMTs), reducing criminalization of mental health crises and aligning with reform goals to divert from traditional law enforcement handling.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIntegrates behavioral health clinicians into co-response teams for mental health crises, enhancing crisis services and aligning with mental health support indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1359: Reviewing laws related to criminal insanity and competency to stand trial.

House Bill 1359 establishes a task force to comprehensively review Washington state laws related to criminal insanity and competency to stand trial. This task force will include members from various state agencies, courts, legal professions, advocacy groups, and individuals with direct experience in the forensic mental health system. Its purpose is to identify barriers in current laws, suggest changes to promote patient-centered language and reduce stigma, and recommend policy updates that encourage effective treatment and safe hospital discharges. The task force is required to report its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature by December 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill directs the reorganization and removal of specific sections within chapter 10.77 RCW.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes task force to review and reform laws on criminal insanity/competency, aiming to reduce stigma, improve patient-centered language, and identify barriers - directly advancing criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 2015: Improving public safety funding by providing resources to local governments and state and local criminal justice agencies, and authorizing a local option tax.

HB 2015 establishes a new grant program to improve public safety by providing direct financial support to local and tribal law enforcement agencies. These grants are intended to help agencies with hiring, retaining, and training law enforcement officers, as well as peer counselors and behavioral health personnel for co-response teams. To qualify for funding, agencies must meet specific requirements, including implementing state policies on use of force and de-escalation, participating in mandated trainings, and demonstrating compliance with data collection standards. Grant funds can cover up to 75 percent of entry-level salaries and benefits for new officers and support costs for required officer training.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes local option tax to fund public safety grants, increasing budget allocation for law enforcement services and personnel training.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds law enforcement hiring/training and behavioral health co-response teams with de-escalation requirements, advancing accountability and public safety reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1207: Concerning superior court clerk fees.

House Bill 1207 modifies the fees collected by superior court clerks, impacting individuals and entities filing various documents in civil actions, appeals, probate proceedings, and certain criminal cases. It introduces new surcharges on many of these filing fees, with the collected funds distributed to state accounts for judicial stabilization, public defense support, court interpreter services, and library-archives, while a portion is retained by counties. The bill establishes a county clerk administrative assistance fund, which the clerk can manage for office operations without county legislative appropriation, and creates dedicated state accounts for public defense and court interpreter support. Notably, it sets a lower initial filing fee for unlawful detainer actions and exempts indigent criminal defendants from certain fees upon conviction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIntroduces surcharges on court filings to fund judicial stabilization, public defense, and court services, directly increasing revenue for essential public programs.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates surcharges from criminal case filings to public defense support, directly funding a key criminal justice reform component per indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1440: Concerning seizure and forfeiture procedures and reporting.

HB 1440 establishes standardized procedures for civil asset forfeiture, directly affecting property owners whose assets are seized by law enforcement agencies. It requires seizing agencies to provide notice to property owners within 15 days of seizure, detailing their right to contest the forfeiture within specific deadlines (60 or 120 days depending on property type). The bill places the burden of proof on the seizing agency to demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture. It also protects property interests of owners who were unaware of or did not consent to the violation, and ensures that individuals who substantially prevail in a forfeiture proceeding are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable attorneys' fees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill standardizes civil forfeiture procedures with notice requirements, contest deadlines, and burden of proof on agencies. Protects property owners' rights and enhances law enforcement accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform indicat...90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 5323: Concerning the penalties for theft and possession of stolen property from first responders.

SB 5323 increases the penalties for stealing or possessing stolen property that belongs to firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) providers. It expands the definitions of first-degree theft and first-degree possession of stolen property to include essential equipment taken from fire stations, EMS buildings, or their vehicles. These actions become a Class B felony if the equipment is critical to emergency work and its loss significantly delayed a response, or if the equipment is valued over $1,000. This bill aims to protect the vital tools first responders use by applying stricter penalties to those who steal or possess their equipment under these specific circumstances.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for theft of emergency equipment to Class B felony, expanding criminalization and severity, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of increased mandatory sentences.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1052: Clarifying a hate crime offense.

House Bill 1052 clarifies the definition of a hate crime offense in Washington state, applying to individuals who commit malicious and intentional acts against others based on perceived protected characteristics. It specifies that assault, property damage, or threats made due to a person's perceived race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability constitute a hate crime. The bill also outlines specific acts, such as burning a cross or defacing property with Nazi symbols, that can be used to infer intent to threaten a victim based on their perceived characteristics. Commission of a hate crime offense is established as a Class C felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies hate crime definition to protect civil rights by explicitly including bias-based acts (race, religion, etc.) and specific symbols, advancing criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1232: Concerning private detention facilities.

Substitute House Bill 1232 amends existing Washington state laws concerning private detention facilities. The bill modifies the definition of a "private detention facility" to include any private, nongovernmental entity, removing the previous restriction to only for-profit entities. It revises the specific operational standards that these facilities must meet for detained persons. The new provisions require a safe and clean environment, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, adequate utilities like heating and hot water, and established maintenance and housekeeping policies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands oversight of private detention facilities to require safer conditions, accessibility, and revised operational standards, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAmends operational standards for private detention facilities, requiring safer conditions for detained individuals, including immigrants held under immigration enforcement.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice