Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 5139: Concerning reentry council.

SB 5139 modifies the structure and operations of the state's Reentry Council, which advises on policies for individuals transitioning from incarceration. The bill expands the council's membership from 15 to 22, adding new representatives for currently incarcerated individuals, crime victims and survivors, and various statewide organizations. It also requires the Governor to consider racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity when making appointments. Additionally, the bill allows council members to receive compensation and increases the number of members required for a meeting to proceed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands Reentry Council membership to include incarcerated individuals and victims, requiring diversity in appointments to improve policies for post-incarceration transition, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1815: Concerning prison riot offenses.

HB 1815 modifies laws concerning prison riot offenses, specifically for those committed in juvenile facilities. The bill clarifies that juvenile detention centers are not considered "correctional institutions" for adult prison riot offenses. It allows individuals to apply to have their records of conviction or adjudication for these offenses vacated if they occurred in a facility operated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families or a county juvenile detention facility. Additionally, it creates a process to review and potentially reduce sentences for individuals whose past "prison riot" convictions from juvenile facilities were used to enhance their later adult sentences.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows vacating juvenile facility conviction records, reducing collateral consequences and advancing criminal justice reform by clearing past offenses in juvenile systems.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5202: Ensuring the efficacy of judicial orders as harm reduction tools that increase the safety of survivors of abuse and support law enforcement in their efforts to enforce the law.

SB 5202 aims to improve the effectiveness of judicial protection orders for survivors of abuse and support law enforcement. It requires courts, including limited jurisdiction courts by January 2026, to implement electronic submission and tracking systems for protection order petitions, allowing remote filing and providing electronic notifications to parties. The bill also mandates the use of a confidential information form to aid identification and service, and prohibits courts from charging petitioners fees or requiring bonds for these orders. Furthermore, it ensures that relief for protection orders cannot be denied or delayed due to other pending legal matters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves judicial protection orders for abuse survivors, enhancing court efficiency and victim safety while supporting law enforcement enforcement - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1484: Concerning exceptional sentences for offenses which result in the pregnancy of a victim of rape.

House Bill 1484 allows courts to impose exceptional sentences, meaning sentences above the standard range, for defendants convicted of rape when the offense results in the victim's pregnancy. The bill amends RCW 9.94A.535, adding this specific outcome as an aggravating circumstance that a jury can consider. This legislative change provides a mechanism for judges to impose longer sentences in these particular cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases sentencing severity for rape resulting in pregnancy by allowing exceptional sentences above standard range, adding pregnancy as aggravating factor.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1747: Expanding protections for applicants and employees under the Washington fair chance act.

HB 1747 expands protections for job applicants and employees under Washington's Fair Chance Act. The bill prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal record until after a conditional offer of employment has been made. It also prevents employers from taking adverse employment action based on arrest records or juvenile conviction records. For adult conviction records, employers must have a legitimate business reason, notify the individual, and provide an opportunity for them to explain or provide additional information before making a decision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands Fair Chance Act to prevent employment discrimination based on criminal records, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job applicant protections by restricting criminal record inquiries pre-offer and preventing adverse actions based on certain records, strengthening worker rights under Fair Chance Act.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1827: Concerning the effective delivery and administration of basic education services to justice-involved students.

House Bill 1827 focuses on improving the delivery of basic education services for students involved with the justice system. The bill clarifies the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure effective education and better outcomes for these students. A key provision extends the deadline for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to fully take over responsibility for administering these services from September 1, 2027, to September 1, 2028. It also adjusts the requirement for annual interim progress reports to the governor and legislature, extending them through 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeImproves education services for justice-involved students to enhance outcomes and reduce recidivism, supporting criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves education delivery for justice-involved students, clarifies Superintendent duties, and extends timelines to ensure better outcomes - strengthening educational access for a vulnerable group.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1094: Providing a property tax exemption for property owned by a qualifying nonprofit organization and loaned, leased, or rented to and used by any government entity to provide character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services.

HB 1094 creates a property tax exemption for nonprofit organizations that loan, lease, or rent property to government entities (like cities, counties, or state agencies) for character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services - such as youth programs, homeless shelters, or community health initiatives. It directly affects qualifying nonprofits that provide these services and government agencies using their facilities. The key provision expands existing tax exemptions by allowing property used by government for these purposes to be exempt, even if owned by a nonprofit. This policy change aims to reduce costs for nonprofits and governments delivering essential community services, effective July 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates property tax exemption for nonprofits providing social services, reducing tax burden to support public service delivery and fiscal alignment with government programs.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides tax exemption for nonprofits offering rehabilitative social services (e.g., homeless shelters, youth programs), directly supporting criminal justice reform through rehabilitation initiatives.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax exemption for nonprofits leasing to government for homeless shelters and social services, directly supporting affordable housing access and homelessness initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice