SB 5066 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning law enforcement and local corrections agency misconduct through investigations and legal actions.

SB 5066 would authorize Washington's attorney general to investigate and sue local law enforcement agencies (like city police departments) and local corrections agencies (like county jails) for violating constitutional or civil rights. It creates new procedures allowing the attorney general to issue demands for documents, conduct investigations, and seek court orders for systemic reforms - such as improved training or policies - to address misconduct patterns. The bill requires agencies to meet compliance timelines for fixes and prohibits the attorney general from pursuing actions that conflict with ongoing federal investigations. This bill does not apply to state agencies (e.g., Washington State Patrol) or hold individual officers liable for misconduct. The bill was referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee in February 2025 but has not advanced further.
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 · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to reflect its progression from the initial Senate filing to the Substitute Bill stage, which includes a new sponsor designation and a formal emergency clause. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a requirement for all remedies to include specific compliance timelines, ensuring agencies must meet deadlines for reforms. Additionally, the language regarding conflicts with federal investigations was slightly tightened to specify 'active' investigations.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on authorizing the Washington Attorney General to investigate and sue local law enforcement and corrections agencies for systemic misconduct, with no changes to eligibility or funding.
TECHNICAL

Added a new sponsor designation indicating the bill is now referred to the Senate Law & Justice committee.

Added a 'declaring an emergency' clause to the act title, allowing it to take effect immediately upon signing.

TIMELINE

Changed the conflict clause regarding federal investigations to specify that the Attorney General cannot act concurrently with any 'active' investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection requiring that all remedies and resolutions include specific timelines for completion, mandating that agencies come into compliance within those periods.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the specific intent language stating the act is 'not intended to address isolated acts of misconduct,' replacing it with a broader statement that the authority is 'not intended to hold individual officers liable for misconduct.'

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
5
Committee
7
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors