Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1829: Concerning tribal warrants.

House Bill 1829 establishes a formal process for Washington state courts and law enforcement to recognize and act upon arrest warrants issued by federally recognized tribal courts. It allows tribal courts to file their warrants with county superior courts. If a state superior court reviews the tribal warrant and finds probable cause for a crime, it must issue a corresponding state arrest warrant. The bill also grants federally recognized tribes standing in state court hearings concerning the legality of extradition and updates various legal definitions to include tribal legal processes. This legislation aims to facilitate cooperation between tribal and state justice systems regarding individuals subject to tribal warrants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFormalizes tribal-state warrant coordination, enhancing tribal sovereignty and intergovernmental cooperation in criminal justice proceedings.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 5714: Declaring civil immigration enforcement as unprofessional conduct of bail bond recovery agents.

Substitute Senate Bill 5714 defines new types of unprofessional conduct for licensed bail bond agents and bail bond recovery agents in Washington state. The bill prohibits these agents from using their position to enforce civil immigration warrants. Additionally, it makes it unprofessional conduct for agents to share a defendant's immigration status outside of their bail bond agency's business. These provisions aim to regulate the specific activities and information handling practices of bail bond professionals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits bail agents from enforcing immigration warrants and sharing immigration status, protecting defendants' civil rights within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationPrevents bail agents from enforcing immigration warrants or sharing status, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 5473: Concerning law enforcement personnel grievance arbitration procedures.

Senate Bill 5473 updates the process for handling disciplinary grievances for law enforcement personnel, including police officers and corrections officers. It mandates a specific procedure for selecting arbitrators in cases involving disciplinary actions, discharges, or terminations. A state commission will appoint a roster of 9 to 18 qualified arbitrators, who must meet criteria for experience in labor relations, cultural competency, and familiarity with the law enforcement profession. These new arbitrator selection procedures apply to relevant arbitrations and collective bargaining agreements negotiated or renewed after January 1, 2022.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates qualified arbitrators with cultural competency for law enforcement disciplinary cases, enhancing procedural fairness and accountability in grievance handling.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5356: Concerning training provided by the criminal justice training commission.

Senate Bill 5356 enhances training provided by the Criminal Justice Training Commission for criminal justice professionals and Title IX investigators. The bill mandates ongoing, specialized training for investigators, prosecutors, defenders, and higher education Title IX investigators on a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach to responding to and investigating sexual assault and gender-based violence. This training includes content on the neurobiology of trauma and trauma-informed interviewing and prosecution techniques. Additionally, it requires the commission to develop new curricula for peace officers on interacting with victims of sexual and gender-based violence, designed for in-agency deployment. These provisions aim to improve sensitivity and effectiveness in handling cases involving victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates trauma-informed training for justice professionals on sexual assault cases, advancing victim-centered reform in criminal justice practices.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5696: Concerning the sales and use tax supporting chemical dependency and mental health treatment programs.

Senate Bill 5696 amends the law concerning a local one-tenth of one percent sales and use tax designated for chemical dependency and mental health treatment programs. The bill clarifies that funds collected from this tax may be used for the new construction of facilities and modifications to existing facilities that support these treatment and therapeutic court programs. It also affirms that these programs and their associated facility needs are considered part of local government public safety initiatives. This provides counties and cities with clear guidance on using these tax revenues for infrastructure related to these services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies tax funds for facility construction/modifications supporting mental health programs, directing existing revenue toward essential services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds mental health/chemical dependency treatment programs tied to therapeutic courts and public safety, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies tax funds for mental health/chemical dependency facility construction/modifications, directly funding treatment programs per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1028: Addressing child exposure to violence.

HB 1028 updates state law regarding child exposure to violence by revising key definitions. It broadens the definition of a "child forensic interview" to include interviews with children exposed to violence against another person, emphasizing culturally responsive and research-based methods. The bill also updates the definition of a "children's advocacy center" to reflect their role as trauma-informed, facility-based programs that support children traumatized by abuse or exposure to violence, adhering to national accreditation standards. These changes aim to improve the investigation and support for child victims and witnesses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates definitions for trauma-informed child victim support in violence cases, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of victim-centered practices.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1174: Concerning court interpreters.

House Bill 1174 updates Washington state law regarding court interpreters, aiming to secure the rights of persons with limited English proficiency in legal proceedings. It redefines key terms, including replacing "non-English-speaking person" with "person with limited English proficiency" and emphasizing "credentialed interpreters." The bill mandates the appointment of credentialed interpreters for these individuals, but allows for non-credentialed interpreters if "good cause" is found, such as their unavailability. In such cases, the judicial officer must determine the interpreter's ability to interpret accurately and ensure they will abide by the code of professional responsibility. The legislation also expands the scope of "legal proceeding" to cover a broader range of court and administrative hearings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates credentialed interpreters to secure rights of limited English proficiency individuals in court proceedings, directly protecting defendant rights and ensuring fair access to justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1133: Concerning sexually violent predators.

This bill modifies the process for identifying and evaluating individuals who may be classified as sexually violent predators for potential civil commitment. It affects individuals nearing release from confinement for sexually violent offenses and the various state agencies involved in their assessment. The bill updates the requirements for agencies, such as the Department of Corrections, to refer these individuals to prosecuting attorneys and to provide comprehensive records for review. Crucially, it grants prosecuting agencies new authority to issue "civil investigative demands" to any public agency to obtain documents and information relevant to determining if civil commitment is warranted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill updates civil commitment process for sexually violent predators, strengthening assessment and referrals to improve public safety within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1457: Requiring electronic monitoring of sexually violent predators granted conditional release.

HB 1457 requires courts to impose electronic monitoring with real-time tracking, exclusion zones, and tamper alerts for sexually violent predators granted conditional release to a less restrictive setting. It mandates a 500-foot buffer zone between the person’s residence and schools/kindergarten facilities, along with individualized conditions like treatment participation, contact restrictions, and GPS supervision. The bill directs courts to collaborate with providers to tailor conditions ensuring community safety while requiring the Department of Corrections to investigate and recommend placement. It also includes fair share principles to prevent disproportionate grouping of such individuals in specific counties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires electronic monitoring and treatment participation to reduce recidivism for high-risk offenders, aligning with reform goals of public safety and rehabilitation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 5128: Concerning the provision of medical assistance to individuals in juvenile detention facilities.

SB 5128 requires Washington state to maintain Medicaid coverage for youth in juvenile detention facilities without interruption. It mandates that medical assistance benefits be suspended (not terminated) during detention, allows youth to apply for coverage while confined, and ensures full reinstatement of benefits immediately upon release. The bill creates a "suspense status" for applications during detention and requires coordination between state agencies, detention facilities, and healthcare providers to streamline coverage transitions. This directly affects youth in juvenile detention, Medicaid providers, and state agencies like the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The law took effect July 27, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on April 4, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures continuous Medicaid coverage for juveniles in detention, supporting healthcare access as part of rehabilitation within the criminal justice system.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMaintains Medicaid continuity for detained youth, preventing coverage gaps and ensuring immediate healthcare access upon release.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice