2021-2022 Voting Record Explainer
Summary
The months leading up to the 2020 election saw a robust national discussion on police accountability and reform, with widely varying opinions on best paths forward. State legislators elected that November went on to pass a package of laws in the 2021 legislative session in response to widespread community calls for change. During the interim, there were both hopeful signs of the new policies having an effect and pushback from law enforcement claiming they were hampered by them. Rather than moving forward and further strengthening statewide police accountability, advocates spent the 2022 legislative session defending their wins by distinguishing between clarifications and rollbacks of the laws passed in 2021.
Voting Records
People Power Washington compiled legislator voting records on bills we supported or opposed in the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions. These are presented in the voter guide for incumbent candidates.
Key:
✅ = Aligned with People Power Washington
❌ = Not aligned with People Power Washington
Voting Record Cheat Sheet
HB 1054 - Police Tactics - Supported
SB 5051 - Decertification - Supported
HB 1310 - Use of Force - Supported
HB 1267 - Independent Investigations - Supported
HB 2037 - Rollback: Use of Force in Terry Stops - Opposed
SB 5919 - Rollback: Use of Force/Vehicular Pursuits - Opposed
HB 1719 - Clarification: Less-lethal weapons acquisition - Supported
HB 1735 - Clarification: Law enforcement can assist in mental or behavioral health crises
2021 Legislation
HB 1054
HB 1054 eliminated many of the most deadly tactics that needlessly escalate police encounters – violence against citizens is not a necessary component of constitutional policing. HB 1054 banned the deadly chokehold that took the lives of George Floyd and Manuel Ellis in Tacoma, it ended no-knock warrants that led to the death of Breonna Taylor, and it limited high-speed vehicular pursuits to circumstances where there is probable cause that the person poses imminent threat to life. Since 2015, two-thirds of high-speed vehicular chases in Washington have led to fatality and 50% of those fatalities have been an innocent bystander or passenger. But since 1054 passed, deaths from high-speed vehicular pursuits have been dramatically reduced. By eliminating or severely restricting the most deadly police tactics, HB 1054 has saved the lives of Washington citizens!
Did this legislation pass?
Yes!
As a result of the hard work and efforts of a broad coalition including the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA), ACLU of Washington, and People Power Washington, as well as an overwhelming public outcry for social justice in 2020, we were able to pass HB 1054. Unfortunately, opponents would like to make it easier for law enforcement to engage in the dangerous high-speed vehicular pursuits that we fought so hard to limit. If this happens in the 2023 legislative session, you can be certain that People Power will be fighting against it!
Why did we support this legislation?
We at People Power Washington believe that whether you are Black or white, Native or immigrant, you deserve safety. The safety and lives of all community members are protected by HB 1054 and especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous civilians who are disproportionately subjected to police violence.
SB 5051
The previous decertification process was not effective to hold officers accountable for their misconduct. One reason is that, previous to SB 5051, officers could only be decertified for a narrow set of circumstances—in fact, no officer had ever been decertified for excessive use of force. In addition, the process can drag out for several years, during which time the officer can continue to stay on the job.
SB 5051 expanded the purpose of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commision (CJTC) to “establish and administer standards and processes for certification, suspension, and decertification of peace officers and corrections officers, with the goal of enhancing the integrity, effectiveness, and professionalism of peace officers and corrections officers, and ensuring that law enforcement and correctional services are delivered to the people of Washington in a manner that fully complies with the constitution and laws of this state and the United States.” The law also increases civilian membership of the commission so that the majority is made up of non-law enforcement representation, expands background checks for potential officers, and requires consistent reporting and record retention by law enforcement agencies.
Did this legislation pass?
Yes!
As a result of the hard work and efforts of a broad coalition including the WCPA, ACLU of Washington, and People Power Washington, as well as an overwhelming public outcry for social justice in 2020, we were able to pass SB 5051.
HB 1310
De-Escalation refers to policies and practices which restrict when and how officers can use force, and limit the type of force and/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance. De-Escalation requires police to exhaust all other reasonable means before resorting to the use of deadly force.
HB 1310 was a key component of broader police reform, and is crucial in that it explicitly mandates that officers de-escalate, defines what is considered excessive force, clarifies the duty of reasonable care the officer must use, and explicitly states that deadly force is justifiable only if necessary to protect another from imminent threat. 1310 established a standard that officers value human life and serve to protect Washington residents.
Did this legislation pass?
Yes!
As a result of the hard work and efforts of a broad coalition including the WCPA, ACLU of Washington, and People Power Washington, as well as an overwhelming public outcry for social justice in 2020, we were able to pass HB 1310.
After passage of this legislation meant to protect lives from unnecessary police violence, Washington State saw a 62% reduction in police killings compared with 5% nationally.
Why did we support this legislation?
We at People Power Washington believe that whether you are Black or white, Native or immigrant, you deserve safety. The safety and lives of all community members are protected by HB 1310, especially Black, Brown, Indigenous, peoples of color and civilians with serious mental illness who are disproportionately subjected to police violence.
HB 1267
Relying on police departments to investigate themselves in cases of deadly use of force creates an inherent conflict of interest. HB 1267 established an Independent Investigations unit that investigates whenever an officer’s use of deadly force results in death or great bodily harm.
Did this legislation pass?
Yes!
As a result of the hard work and efforts of a broad coalition including the WCPA, ACLU of Washington, and People Power Washington, as well as an overwhelming public outcry for social justice in 2020, we were able to pass HB 1267. No other state in the country has an Office of Independent Investigations and this legislation is another example of how Washington State is leading the way in police reform.
2022 Legislation
HB 2037
HB 2037 expanded the authorization of use of physical force by law enforcement and rolled back the intent of 2021’s carefully crafted de-escalation and use of force standards as they applied to Terry Stops. HB 2037 allows officers wide discretion of use of physical force to prevent someone from fleeing the scene of a Terry Stop, which are usually conducted for low-level offenses and require a very low legal standard of reasonable suspicion. In practice, reasonable suspicion often leads to racial profiling.
Did this legislation pass?
Yes.
Unfortunately, despite the dire warnings of impacted family members, police accountability experts, health experts, over 100 organizations including labor, faith, civil rights, and civil liberties advocates, and the thousands of citizens who signed in opposition to this bill, it passed into law.
Why did we oppose this legislation?
We fear HB 2037 will result in increased racial profiling and state violence against citizens, especially Black, Indigenous, and communities of color and youth who are disproportionately the victims of police violence. We know the results of increased officer discretion and lenient standards for use of force, and it is the loss of human life.
SB 5919
SB 5919 was a very dangerous bill that would have expanded the use of high-speed vehicular pursuits, lowered the expectations for when officers are required to de-escalate, eroded the protections fought for in 2021’s accountability legislation, and expanded the use of physical force by police officers.
Did this legislation pass?
No!
Because the versions of this bill that passed in the House and the Senate were different, the bill would have had to go to concurrence where the different versions are reconciled in order to pass into law. However, the bill did not come to the Senate floor for concurrence before the deadline and died. Thankfully, this dangerous legislation did not become law. However, we will be watching the 2023 legislative session closely and fight any legislation that would lead to a greater number of civilian deaths at the hands of police!
Why did we oppose this legislation?
We at People Power Washington believe no matter your race, gender, or income, you deserve safety. In 2021, Washington State passed a package of police accountability legislation meant to protect lives from unnecessary police violence. Washington State saw a 62% reduction in police killings compared with 5% nationally in 2021.
High-speed vehicular pursuits are extremely dangerous. Since 2015 two-thirds of high-speed vehicular chases in Washington have led to fatality and 50% of those fatalities have been an innocent bystander or passenger. But since the passage of HB 1054, which restricted the use of this deadly police tactic, deaths from high-speed vehicular pursuits have dramatically reduced.
HB 1719
After passage of HB 1054 “Tactics Bill” in 2021, law enforcement agencies noted that they were no longer able to accept and use less-lethal weapons from the military. Because lawmakers did not intend for this to happen, HB 1719 clarified that departments can acquire and use less-lethal military equipment.
Did this legislation pass?
Yes!
HB 1719 faced little opposition and easily passed into law.
HB 1735
In 2021 Washington state passed HB 1310 that defined what is considered excessive force, specified when force can be used, and clarified the duty of reasonable care the officer must use. Some officers in the field interpreted HB 1310 to mean that they could not intervene in cases of mental health crisis. This was never the intent of HB 1310. HB 1735 clarified that officers are not prevented from assisting on behavioral health crisis calls.
Did this legislation pass?
Yes!
HB 1735 faced little opposition and easily passed into law.