Criminal Justice

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

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2310: Concerning criminal classification and penalties for sexually motivated assault in the fourth degree.

HB 2310 changes sentencing for certain fourth-degree assaults by elevating them to a class C felony when the assault is found to be sexually motivated and the perpetrator has two or more prior convictions for sex offenses within the past decade. It directly affects individuals who commit sexually motivated fourth-degree assaults and have prior adult convictions for offenses like rape, child molestation, or assault with sexual motivation. The bill adds a new provision requiring a "finding of sexual motivation" under existing law (RCW 9.94A.835) to trigger the felony classification, replacing prior domestic violence-based triggers for similar cases. This targets repeat offenders with a history of sex-related crimes, making the sentencing more severe for new sexually motivated assaults in these specific circumstances.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill elevates sentencing for sexually motivated fourth-degree assaults with prior sex offenses to class C felony, increasing penalties. Aligns with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator for 'oppose'.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 2394: Enhancing public safety and enforcement of crimes that impact insurance.

HB 2394 updates Washington's insurance fraud laws to better address modern schemes. It clarifies definitions of "insurer" to include health care service contractors and health maintenance organizations, and explicitly lists fraud types like submitting false medical bills, embezzling premiums, or misrepresenting insurance claims. The bill upgrades insurance fraud to a class B felony and requires restitution for insurers and victims. This directly affects insurers, consumers, and individuals committing fraud involving insurance claims or payments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill upgrades insurance fraud to class B felony (stricter sentencing) and mandates restitution, strengthening criminal justice enforcement against financial crimes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets healthcare insurance fraud (e.g., false medical bills), protecting insurers and consumers, thus supporting healthcare system integrity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Insurance

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2693: Prohibiting sexually violent predators from being placed in less restrictive alternatives located in areas with a high concentration of children.

HB 2693 prohibits sexually violent predators from being placed in less restrictive community-based housing (like transitional facilities) within 500 feet of locations with a high concentration of children, such as schools, parks, or daycares. It directly affects individuals convicted of sexually violent offenses who are conditionally released under Washington state law. The bill amends state law to require that such placements must occur in areas where the adult-to-child ratio within 500 feet exceeds three adults per child. This policy change specifically restricts housing options for this group near high-risk locations, without altering eligibility for conditional release.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts placement of sexually violent predators near children to enhance public safety, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of community protection and reducing recidivism risk.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2595: Concerning collateral attacks on judgment and sentence in criminal cases.

HB 2595 extends the time limit for filing collateral attacks on criminal convictions from one year to three years after a judgment becomes final. It defines "collateral attack" to include postconviction petitions like personal restraint petitions and motions to vacate judgments, and specifies when a judgment becomes final (e.g., after direct appeals or Supreme Court certiorari denial). The bill requires the Department of Corrections to notify currently incarcerated individuals about this new three-year limit. These changes directly affect people convicted of felonies who seek postconviction relief, aiming to streamline legal processes while maintaining access to certain remedies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends postconviction review time from 1 to 3 years, enabling more opportunities for defendants to challenge convictions, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Victims' Rights

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6031: Enhancing public safety and enforcement of crimes that impact insurance.

SB 6031 updates Washington state's insurance fraud laws to address modern schemes, including medical billing fraud using incorrect CPT/HCPCS codes. It expands the definition of "insurer" to cover more insurance types and defines specific fraud acts - like submitting false medical claims, misrepresenting services, or embezzling premiums - as a class B felony. The bill requires restitution for insurers and victims of fraud, clarifies where cases can be prosecuted, and targets organized fraud impacting both insurers and consumers. It directly affects insurers, health care providers (through medical coding rules), and insurance consumers by strengthening enforcement and penalties for fraudulent activities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill classifies insurance fraud as class B felony, strengthens enforcement, and requires restitution, directly advancing criminal justice through sentencing and public safety measures.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets medical billing fraud (specifically false CPT/HCPCS claims) to protect insurers and victims, strengthening integrity of healthcare insurance system and preventing misuse of healthcare funds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Insurance

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 2643: Concerning the due process requirements and the procedures of a peace officer being placed on Brady and Giglio lists.

HB 2643 protects peace officers from disciplinary action solely based on being listed on prosecutor-maintained "Brady and Giglio lists" (which flag officers with potential impeachment evidence). It requires law enforcement agencies to base discipline on the underlying misconduct, not the list placement itself. The bill grants officers a due process right to challenge their listing in superior court, where evidence is reviewed confidentially under seal, with a preponderance-of-evidence standard. This ensures officers can contest their inclusion without public disclosure, while preserving prosecutors' legal duty to share impeachment evidence under Brady/Giglio.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill weakens law enforcement accountability by preventing discipline based on Brady/Giglio lists, requiring misconduct proof instead of list placement, reducing oversight mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 5998: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

SB 5998 adjusts funding for Washington State's 2025-2027 fiscal biennium by increasing appropriations for the House of Representatives ($200,000 for FY2026), Senate ($20,000 for FY2026), and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. It allocates $400,000 for the committee to audit juvenile rehabilitation programs (including staffing, youth services, and safety protocols) and another $400,000 to review ignition interlock device compliance. The bill also sets aside $150,000 for auditing forest health planning. As a procedural appropriations bill, it modifies existing funding levels without creating new policies or regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases appropriations for legislative bodies and audits ($1.15M total), funding oversight of juvenile rehab and ignition interlocks, advancing fiscal management through targeted spending.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates $400k to audit juvenile rehabilitation programs (including staffing/services) and $400k for ignition interlock compliance review, supporting oversight and potential reform in criminal justice.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget Juvenile Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2332: Concerning driver privacy protections.

HB 2332 regulates how Washington state and local agencies use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems to protect driver privacy. It requires all agencies using ALPRs to register systems with the Attorney General, limits their use to specific purposes (like checking stolen vehicles or missing persons), and prohibits collecting data near healthcare facilities, schools, or places of worship. The bill mandates detailed audit trails tracking every system access and explicitly bans using ALPRs for immigration enforcement or stopping vehicles based solely on a system match. Agencies must develop policies for ALPR use and obtain independent reasonable suspicion before stopping a vehicle, ensuring privacy rights under state and federal law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRegulates ALPR use to protect privacy, limits law enforcement data collection near sensitive locations, and mandates audit trails - enhancing accountability and civil rights within criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits ALPR data collection near healthcare facilities, protecting patient privacy access and preventing surveillance at medical locations.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates ALPR data collection to protect privacy, requiring audits and banning sensitive location tracking - directly strengthens data privacy protections in technology use.95% confidence

Tags Privacy

Track

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