Criminal Justice

passed both · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2510: Concerning the supervision of individuals sentenced to community custody.

HB 2510 requires Washington's Department of Corrections to supervise specific individuals placed on community custody, directly affecting people convicted of certain sex offenses, repeat domestic violence offenses, or high-risk violent crimes. The bill mandates supervision for those convicted of sexual misconduct with minors, communication with minors for immoral purposes, domestic violence felonies with prior offenses, and individuals classified as high-risk to reoffend. It also specifies that supervision applies regardless of risk level for certain cases, such as failure-to-register violations, vehicular homicide, or stalking convictions. The supervision period cannot exceed the legally defined community custody term, with possible reductions for compliance. This bill updates existing statutes to clarify who must be supervised under community custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates enhanced supervision for high-risk offenders including sex offenses and domestic violence, strengthening correctional oversight.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6070: Supporting the recovery of missing persons.

Washington State's SB 6070 requires law enforcement to obtain a court order before using certain surveillance tools - including pen registers, trap and trace devices, and cell site simulators (devices that mimic cell towers) - to locate missing endangered persons. The bill amends existing laws to specify that these tools may only be deployed when investigating a missing person who qualifies as "endangered" under state law. Courts must approve such orders based on probable cause that the tools will help locate the missing person or gather evidence related to their disappearance. This law directly affects law enforcement agencies conducting missing persons investigations and ensures judicial oversight for these intrusive surveillance methods.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires judicial oversight for surveillance tools in missing persons cases, enhancing police accountability and civil rights protections per bill's court order mandate.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill requires court orders for surveillance tools (e.g., cell site simulators) to protect privacy of missing persons, directly advancing data privacy (core technology topic).90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5906: Establishing data and personal safety protections within areas of public accommodation for all Washington residents.

SB 5906 is a proposed bill that would protect students and families in Washington state's early learning programs (like child care centers, preschools, and schools) from immigration enforcement activities. It prohibits providers from collecting immigration status information and requires officers to show a warrant before entering school or child care facilities for immigration enforcement. The bill also mandates that providers inform parents about their children's program eligibility regardless of immigration status and distribute "know your rights" materials annually. It directly affects licensed early learning providers and school districts, requiring them to follow these safety protocols while complying with federal law. The bill is currently in the legislative process but has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement access to schools without warrants, limiting immigration enforcement activities in educational settings, directly restricting law enforcement procedures under criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects educational access by preventing immigration enforcement in schools and requiring eligibility transparency for families in early learning programs.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits collecting immigration status in schools, requires warrants for enforcement, mandates eligibility info regardless of status - protects immigrant families in early learning programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5912: Reinstating the indigent defense task force.

This bill reinstates a task force to study Washington's system for providing legal representation to people who cannot afford a lawyer. The task force, composed of judges, defense attorneys, county officials, and community members with lived experience, must review regional delivery models, staffing levels, funding, and data collection by January 2028. It will evaluate barriers to meeting legal representation standards and recommend improvements to ensure effective, timely, and sustainable services statewide. The task force expires June 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReinstating indigent defense task force to study and improve legal representation for low-income defendants, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5936: Concerning prevention of and remedies for human trafficking.

SB 5936 holds businesses accountable for human trafficking by allowing prosecution if they knowingly engage in trafficking or fail to stop it when aware of a pattern benefiting the business. Businesses found liable face penalties including fines up to $1 million per offense, disgorgement of profits, and debarment from government contracts. The bill strengthens victim confidentiality in trafficking cases, requiring law enforcement to keep victim identities, images, and family information private unless disclosure is necessary for investigation, court orders, or victim services. It also updates existing laws to expand exemptions for victim information in public records, particularly protecting children in sexual exploitation cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens victim confidentiality and holds businesses accountable for trafficking, aligning with criminal justice reform to protect victims and enhance legal remedies.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill holds businesses accountable for human trafficking, protecting workers from exploitation and strengthening workplace safety standards through penalties and victim confidentiality.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5169: Concerning testimony of children.

SB 5169 expands the rules for how children's testimony is handled in legal proceedings. It allows statements made by children under the age of 18 (previously under 10 for some offenses) to be admissible in court for a wider range of crimes, including sexual contact, physical abuse, trafficking, and violent offenses, even if the act was against another child or a known person. The bill also broadens the circumstances under which a child under 18 can testify via one-way closed-circuit television in criminal cases. This includes situations where the child would be traumatized by the presence of the jury, in addition to trauma caused by the defendant's presence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands admissibility of child testimony in abuse cases, protecting victims' rights and improving court procedures - directly aligns with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5071: Updating the endangerment with a controlled substance statute.

Senate Bill 5071 updates Washington's law regarding endangerment with a controlled substance. It expands the types of substances covered to include fentanyl or synthetic opioids, in addition to methamphetamine, when a person knowingly or recklessly exposes a child or dependent adult to them. The bill also changes the required mental state for the crime from "knowingly or intentionally" to "knowingly or recklessly." It specifically exempts legitimate medical administration of these substances and protects Department of Children, Youth, and Families personnel acting within their role from criminal liability under this statute. The crime remains classified as a Class B felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands endangerment statute to cover fentanyl/synthetic opioids and lowers mental state to reckless for child protection, strengthening legal safeguards against dangerous substances.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2417: Changing the Washington code of military justice so that it includes certain protections for victims of an offense while serving within the organized militia of Washington.

HB 2417 updates Washington's military justice code to extend specific victim protections to members of the state National Guard (organized militia) who experience crimes while serving in their state capacity. It directly affects National Guard members who are victims of offenses under the state military code. The bill establishes concrete rights including protection from the accused, timely notice of court proceedings, the right to be heard at key hearings, privacy safeguards, and access to restitution. These provisions align state military justice standards with federal protections to ensure consistent victim treatment during both federal and state service.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends victim protections (privacy, notice, hearing rights) to National Guard members under military justice, advancing victim rights within criminal justice framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5282: Reestablishing the advisory board for the missing and exploited children task force.

Senate Bill 5282 reestablishes an advisory board to guide the Washington State Patrol's task force on missing and exploited children. This board will advise on the objectives, management, and coordination of the task force's activities. It will comprise nine members, including representatives from law enforcement, legal professionals, a tribal member, a treatment provider, and an individual with direct lived experience of child abduction or exploitation. The board is required to meet annually and submit yearly reports to the legislature detailing the task force's operations, outcomes, and recommendations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReestablishes advisory board to guide law enforcement task force on missing children, supporting coordinated victim-focused law enforcement within criminal justice framework.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5278: Concerning emergency measures for managing juvenile populations at state juvenile correctional institutions.

SB 5278 addresses overcrowding in state juvenile correctional institutions, aiming to ensure the safe management of juvenile populations and protect both youth and employees. The bill amends existing state laws related to the management of individuals placed in juvenile rehabilitation institutions. Specifically, it updates definitions for key terms within juvenile justice, such as "assessment," "community-based rehabilitation," "community supervision," and "confinement." While the bill's title references "emergency measures," the provided text primarily focuses on these foundational definitions and legislative intent.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates definitions to prioritize community-based rehabilitation/supervision, addresses juvenile overcrowding for safety, aligns with reform goals to reduce incarceration reliance and enhance rehabilitation programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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