Criminal Justice (Domestic Violence)

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5532: Establishing standards for civil proceedings and unprofessional conduct involving child abuse and domestic violence.

SB 5532 requires mandatory training for court personnel handling child abuse and domestic violence cases, including judges, guardians ad litem, and mediators. It mandates 20 hours of initial training and 15 hours every five years, covering all abuse types (sexual, physical, psychological), trauma, bias, and evidence-based best practices. The bill also updates guardian ad litem appointment procedures to ensure qualified personnel are selected through a rotational registry system. These changes aim to improve court decisions in child welfare cases by standardizing education and oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates training for court personnel handling abuse cases to address bias, trauma, and evidence-based practices, strengthening court procedures in criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2071: Generating resources to combat domestic violence by imposing an excise tax on owners of online dating applications.

HB 2071 imposes a monthly $1 tax on owners of online dating applications with Washington resident users, calculated based on the number of Washington residents (identified via address or IP) using the app each month. The tax applies to businesses owning 50% or more of such apps and funds must be deposited into a dedicated domestic violence services account for intervention programs and victim assistance. Owners must report resident user counts monthly and maintain records, with accounts inactive for 24+ months no longer taxable. The tax takes effect January 1, 2026, and directly affects online dating app companies operating in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new excise tax on app owners to fund domestic violence services, directly allocating tax revenue to a public program per bill's funding mechanism.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds domestic violence intervention programs and victim assistance, directly supporting criminal justice system victim services and prevention efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Domestic Violence

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5274: Concerning body worn cameras within corrections agencies.

SB 5274 establishes a pilot program requiring the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to implement body worn cameras at Green Hill School by January 2026. It expands authorized users of body worn cameras to include officers from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Department of Corrections, and personnel at jails and detention facilities. The bill also adds specific exemptions preventing public disclosure of body worn camera recordings when they contain sensitive information, such as medical details, intimate images, or the identity of victims in domestic violence or sexual assault cases. These changes aim to balance transparency with privacy protections for vulnerable individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates body-worn cameras in corrections for accountability, aligning with reform indicators like oversight and transparency in criminal justice operations.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates exemptions preventing public disclosure of sensitive data in body camera recordings, directly protecting data privacy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1436: Incentivizing cities and counties to increase employment of commissioned law enforcement officers.

HB 1436 allows Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Local governments must use the revenue to hire more officers if their officer-to-population ratio is below the national average, or for other criminal justice programs (like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives) if their ratio is already above average. The state collects the tax and returns the funds directly to the local jurisdiction. This bill aims to address Washington’s low ranking in law enforcement staffing per capita and high crime rates by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for local governments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 0.10% sales tax to fund law enforcement hiring, directly allocating tax revenue to public safety programs under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds additional law enforcement officers and related criminal justice programs (e.g., domestic violence services) through dedicated tax revenue, directly advancing resource allocation in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1386: Imposing a new tax on firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition.

HB 1386 imposes an 11% sales tax on retail purchases of firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition in Washington State. This tax applies to all retail transactions except sales to state, local, or tribal governments for law enforcement use. Revenue from the tax must fund programs focused on suicide prevention, reducing firearm-related domestic violence, and supporting victims' services. The bill directly affects firearm retailers and individual purchasers, with no exemption for government agency purchases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 11% tax on firearms to fund suicide prevention and victim services, directly allocating revenue to public programs as required by the bill.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds suicide prevention and firearm-related domestic violence programs, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing violence and supporting victims.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Domestic Violence Firearms Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1428: Concerning the county criminal justice assistance account and municipal criminal justice assistance account.

HB 1428 establishes two state-funded accounts to support criminal justice services: one for counties and one for cities. It mandates annual transfers of $50 million (increasing by 50% starting in 2026) into these accounts, with county funds distributed based on population (20%), crime rate (30%), and criminal cases (50%). Municipal funds are distributed only to cities meeting a 125% statewide crime rate threshold, with 30% allocated to cities exceeding 175% of the average crime rate. The bill prohibits using these funds to replace existing local funding and restricts spending to criminal justice activities like domestic violence services and law enforcement support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates $50M annual state funding for criminal justice services, increasing to $75M by 2026, directly funding public safety programs through new appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes state-funded accounts for county/municipal criminal justice services with mandatory $50M annual funding (increasing 50% by 2026), directly advancing resource allocation for justice systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1896: Increasing local law enforcement officers by authorizing a local sales and use tax credited against the state portion to hire additional officers and increasing the number of basic law enforcement courses offered by the criminal justice training commission.

HB 1896 authorizes counties and cities in Washington to impose a 0.1% local sales and use tax, with the revenue credited against state tax obligations, to fund hiring additional commissioned law enforcement officers. The bill requires that funds be used primarily for hiring officers to reach at least the national average of officers per capita, with limited exceptions for "criminal justice purposes" like domestic violence services or homelessness programs. It also expands the Criminal Justice Training Commission’s mandate to increase the number of basic law enforcement training courses. The legislation aims to address Washington’s low law enforcement officer-to-population ratio and rising crime rates by providing a dedicated local funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes 0.1% local sales tax to fund law enforcement hiring, increasing public service funding via tax revenue for essential services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds hiring officers to reach national per capita average and expands criminal justice training, directly advancing law enforcement staffing and training resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5285: Incentivizing cities and counties to increase employment of commissioned law enforcement officers.

SB 5285 would allow Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Jurisdictions must use the revenue solely for hiring officers unless their current officer-to-population ratio exceeds the national average (calculated using FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data), in which case funds can support broader criminal justice programs like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives. The bill targets Washington's high violent crime rates and low officer staffing - ranking last in the nation for officers per capita - by creating a dedicated funding stream for local law enforcement expansion. It requires jurisdictions to report staffing data annually and mandates that tax revenue directly supports law enforcement employment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes local 0.10% sales tax to fund law enforcement officers, directly increasing government spending on public safety through new tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds additional law enforcement officers and permits related criminal justice programs, directly advancing public safety and officer staffing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1591: Providing remedies for defendant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking.

HB 1591 allows Washington courts to reduce criminal sentences or use alternative sentencing for defendants who were victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking at the time of their offense. To qualify, the court must find that the abuse significantly contributed to the defendant's criminal conduct and that standard sentencing would be excessively severe. If eligible, the court may impose a reduced prison term combined with extended community supervision instead of full incarceration, while excluding certain serious offenses like murder or sex crimes requiring registration. The bill also permits resentencing for current inmates serving eight+ year sentences who meet the criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows courts to reduce sentences for abuse survivors, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

Track

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

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement