Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 6011: Concerning the authority of court of appeals bailiffs to assess threats to court of appeals judicial officers and staff members.

SB 6011 authorizes court of appeals bailiffs in Washington State to conduct threat assessments for judicial officers and court staff. It allows bailiffs to access criminal history records (including non-conviction data) solely to investigate threats against court personnel, as defined by state law. Bailiffs must refer all verified threats to local law enforcement, who will then report outcomes back to the bailiffs. The bill strictly limits the use of criminal history data to threat investigations and requires proper training for bailiffs performing these duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill authorizes threat assessments for court personnel (a core criminal justice function), protecting judicial staff per court security needs. Aligns with 'protect' in support definition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

in committee · Washington · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2349: Providing community notification regarding the release or discharge of sexually violent predators.

HB 2349 requires Washington state agencies to provide written community notification 3 months before releasing or discharging individuals classified as sexually violent predators. It mandates that agencies share detailed records (including institutional history, mental health evaluations, and criminal history) with local law enforcement, county officials, legislators, and victims (if they request it) prior to release. The bill directly affects counties, law enforcement, and victims by requiring timely disclosure of release dates and relevant background information. Key provisions include standardized notification to sheriffs, county administrators, legislators, and law enforcement via the Washington Crime Information Center, ensuring consistent community awareness. This focuses on procedural transparency rather than altering commitment standards or penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires community notification for sexually violent predator releases, enhancing public safety and victim protection through transparency in correctional releases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 2493: Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses.

HB 2493 expands rights and support for survivors of sexual violence, including those affected by female genital mutilation (FGM), in Washington state. It amends statutes to require courts to appoint representatives for defendants representing themselves in sexual assault cases to question victims, and allows minors aged 13+ to consent to forensic exams for strangulation-related domestic violence. The bill also broadens definitions of sexual assault, mandates trauma-sensitive victim services, and guarantees survivors access to medical exams, advocates, and updates on case progress. These changes directly affect survivors, law enforcement, courts, and community sexual assault programs by embedding victim-centered approaches into legal procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim rights in sexual assault cases, mandates trauma-sensitive services, and requires court-appointed representatives for victims - aligns with victim-centered criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 2648: Concerning state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement officials.

HB 2648 requires Washington state and local peace officers to activate body and dash cameras when encountering individuals suspected of conducting federal immigration enforcement. Officers must immediately report such encounters to their agency and document the interaction, including verifying the person's identity if safe to do so. The bill protects officers from liability in civil or criminal cases if they follow these procedures in good faith while acting within their job duties. It directly affects all on-duty Washington peace officers during interactions with federal immigration officials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body cameras and documentation for immigration-related law enforcement encounters, enhancing officer accountability and transparency in criminal justice interactions.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires documentation/reporting of federal immigration interactions, limiting local cooperation with federal enforcement - a support indicator for immigrant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 2644: Concerning the use of body worn cameras by law enforcement officers.

HB 2644 requires all Washington state law enforcement officers to activate body-worn cameras during every public interaction or incident starting July 1, 2027, with limited exceptions for undercover operations or personal breaks (requiring verbal justification for deactivation). It mandates secure digital storage of recordings, minimum 90-day retention for routine incidents, and three-year retention for use-of-force cases, arrests, or complaints. Law enforcement agencies must update policies by July 2027 to cover activation rules, public notification, deactivation documentation, officer training, and data security. The bill also grants citizens the right to request recordings at no cost, while preempting local laws inconsistent with these statewide standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body cameras for all public officer interactions, requiring activation, secure storage, and extended retention for use-of-force cases, directly enhancing police accountability and transparency in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure digital storage and retention policies for body camera footage, directly enhancing data privacy protections for digital recordings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Consumer Data Protection

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6095: Protecting elected officials and candidates, executive state officers, election officials, and criminal justice participants against threats and incidents of political violence.

SB 6095 makes it a class C felony to threaten or harass elected officials (including candidates), executive state officers, election officials, or criminal justice participants (like law enforcement, prosecutors, or court staff) when the threat is related to their official duties. The bill expands Washington’s address confidentiality program, allowing these individuals to keep their primary residential addresses private by using a designated state address instead of their real home address in public records. This protects their safety by reducing the risk of targeted violence or harassment. The law applies to anyone facing threats related to their role in government or criminal justice, with eligibility requiring a sworn statement of credible fear.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects criminal justice participants (law enforcement, court staff) from threats, enhancing safety and operational security within the system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2464: Concerning reporting requirements and law enforcement responses for incidents at private detention facilities.

HB 2464 requires private detention facilities operating under government contracts to meet specific standards for food services, staff training, and infection control, while mandating timely reporting of serious incidents like abuse, death, or injuries to health and law enforcement. Facilities must provide balanced meals with dietary oversight, maintain safety protocols, and post clear policies on detained persons' rights. Starting November 2026, law enforcement agencies must annually report to the health department on how they responded to facility incidents, including whether victims received police reports or prosecutions occurred. The bill directly affects private detention facilities with government contracts, aiming to improve oversight and accountability in their operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates standards for private detention facilities (corrections) including incident reporting, rights policies, and safety protocols, promoting oversight and civil rights in detention, aligning with criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires detention facility standards and incident reporting, protecting detainee rights in immigration custody per bill's focus on abuse/death reporting and facility protocols.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Detention

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6086: Strengthening security for Washington state judicial officers and court personnel.

SB 6086 authorizes Washington state court bailiffs and security consultants to conduct threat assessments and access limited criminal history data (including unconvicted incidents) specifically to investigate threats against judges, justices, and court personnel. It requires staff to be trained for these duties, strictly restricts data use to threat investigations, and mandates referrals to local law enforcement for verified threats. The bill clarifies that "judicial officer" includes all state and federal court staff (from supreme courts to municipal courts) and adds new rules for securely handling nonconviction data. These changes aim to strengthen security protocols while limiting data access to only authorized threat-related purposes under strict confidentiality rules.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill authorizes threat assessments and security measures for judicial personnel, strengthening court safety within criminal justice system. Restricts data use to threat investigations and mandates law enforcement referrals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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signed · Washington · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2508: Clarifying the scope of authority of the office of independent investigations to align with current operations and practices and to include public disclosure requirements and protect privacy.

HB 2508 clarifies the authority of Washington's Office of Independent Investigations (OII) to align with current practices and adds public disclosure requirements while protecting privacy. It updates definitions (like "involved agency" and "independent investigation team") and specifies that the OII investigates police use of deadly force incidents, deaths during force, and prior investigations with new evidence. The bill requires the OII to prioritize cases based on resources, include pre-incident review in investigations, and provide public reports while safeguarding sensitive information. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, the OII, and individuals involved in police incidents. The changes aim to standardize the OII's operations without creating new investigative mandates.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates OII investigations of police deadly force incidents and deaths during force, enhancing police accountability through defined protocols and public disclosure requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2686: Exempting certain petitions for dissolution of marriage from the expense of filing and service of process.

HB 2686 exempts certain divorce petitioners from filing fees and service costs if domestic violence occurred during the marriage. Specifically, it waives all fees for filing a dissolution petition and requires law enforcement to serve the petition at no cost to the petitioner if a domestic violence protection order was issued against the respondent or if the respondent was charged with domestic violence. This applies directly to individuals seeking divorce who have experienced domestic violence, as defined in state law. The bill ensures these petitioners avoid financial barriers to accessing the court system while prioritizing their safety. It does not change existing fee structures for other divorce cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeWaives fees for domestic violence victims seeking divorce, removing barriers to legal protection and aligning with victim-centered criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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