HB 1436
In CommitteeHouse
Law enf. officers/increase
Incentivizing cities and counties to increase employment of commissioned law enforcement officers.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales and use tax to hire more law enforcement officers or support related public safety programs, aiming to increase officer staffing to at least the national average. It also updates training requirements for peace officers and mandates expanded training capacity by the state.
- Cities and counties may impose a new 0.10% sales and use tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers or, if already above the national average officer-to-population ratio, broader criminal justice programs.
- Tax revenue must be used solely for hiring more officers unless the local rate exceeds the national average, in which case funds may support criminal justice purposes—including domestic violence services, homelessness reduction, and behavioral health programs—through December 31, 2026.
- The state Department of Revenue will collect the tax at no cost to local governments and distribute funds to the taxing jurisdiction.
- Law enforcement officers hired on or after July 1, 2023, must complete basic training within 12 months; those hired before that date may be required to take supplemental training but not the full academy.
- The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission must offer at least 27 basic training classes in FY2026 and 28 in FY2027 onward, with funding required from the legislature.
- Small agencies (10 or fewer full-time patrol officers) may be reimbursed for temporary replacement officers while staff attend training.
Who is affected
- Local governments (cities and counties) — Cities and counties in Washington may impose an additional 0.10% sales and use tax to fund more law enforcement officers or related criminal justice programs, depending on their current officer-to-population ratio.
- General public/residents — Residents of cities and counties that adopt the new tax will pay an extra 0.10% sales or use tax on purchases; those in jurisdictions with high officer staffing may see tax revenue used for broader criminal justice services instead of just hiring more officers.
- Local law enforcement agencies — Law enforcement agencies—especially those with 10 or fewer full-time patrol officers—may receive state reimbursement for temporary replacement officers while their staff attend required training.
- Limited authority Washington peace officers — Limited authority peace officers (e.g., parking enforcement, parking control, certain tribal or campus officers) gain clearer pathways to meet training requirements, and those hired before July 1, 2023, are not required to attend the full basic academy if they meet certain conditions.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The tax provides a dedicated, scalable funding stream to hire more officers in jurisdictions currently well below the national average—potentially improving response times, investigative capacity, and community presence in underserved areas.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(3)(a)Allowing jurisdictions above the national average to use funds for domestic violence services, behavioral health, and homelessness programs expands public safety beyond traditional policing toward harm reduction and prevention—especially beneficial in communities with high unmet social service needs.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(b), Sec. 2(4)(a)Reimbursement for temporary replacement officers for small agencies (≤10 officers) reduces the operational burden of mandatory training, helping retain experienced officers and maintain coverage in rural and small-town departments that are most vulnerable to staffing shortages.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 3(3)Exempting pre-2023 limited authority peace officers from the full academy requirement—while requiring only supplemental training—prevents workforce disruption in agencies that rely on specialized officers (e.g., parking enforcement, tribal officers), preserving institutional knowledge while improving baseline training standards.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(a), Sec. 3(2)(b)(ii)Mandating at least 27–28 basic training classes annually starting FY2026 helps address Washington’s chronic training capacity shortage, which has contributed to officer shortages and delayed hiring—especially in rural areas where training slots have been scarce.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 3(4)
Potential Concerns (5)
The 0.10% sales tax increase would raise local sales tax rates significantly—potentially to 10.5% or higher in some areas—making Washington’s already regressive tax system more burdensome for low- and middle-income households, who spend a larger share of income on taxable goods.
FinancialRef: Sec. 2(3)(a)The tax revenue is capped at December 31, 2026 for broader criminal justice use, creating a sunset cliff that may discourage long-term strategic investment in alternatives to incarceration, and could force jurisdictions to scramble for funding after 2026 if no permanent solution is enacted.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(3)(b)The requirement for supplemental training for pre-2023 limited authority peace officers lacks clear standards or timelines, potentially leading to inconsistent implementation across agencies and leaving some officers undertrained in critical areas like de-escalation or mental health response.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 3(2)(b)(i)The state-mandated reimbursement for temporary replacement officers only applies to agencies with 10 or fewer full-time patrol officers, excluding mid-sized agencies that may still struggle with staffing but don’t qualify—creating a funding gap for many rural and suburban departments.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 3(3)While the bill allows use of funds for homelessness reduction, it does not require or incentivize coordination with housing or social services agencies, potentially leading to siloed spending that fails to address root causes of homelessness and may even increase policing of unhoused people.
HousingRef: Sec. 2(3)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income residents in high-sales-tax jurisdictions will pay more for everyday goods; however, if the tax funds increased police presence in high-crime neighborhoods, they may experience improved safety. Net effect is mixed but leans negative due to regressive tax burden.
Small rural and suburban agencies (≤10 officers) benefit from reimbursement for training coverage and may hire more officers via the tax—but face administrative burdens in applying for funds and may still lack capacity to absorb new hires without broader support.
Large urban departments may benefit from increased state training capacity but are less likely to use the tax (as most already exceed the national officer ratio), limiting direct benefit. They may benefit indirectly from reduced strain on regional response systems.
Nonprofit service providers (e.g., domestic violence shelters, behavioral health clinics) may gain new funding streams in jurisdictions that opt to use tax revenue for criminal justice purposes—but only if local governments prioritize them over traditional policing, which is not guaranteed.
Retail and hospitality businesses in high-traffic jurisdictions may see modestly reduced sales if the tax discourages shopping, but the effect is likely small given the low rate (0.10%) and Washington’s high baseline sales tax. Most businesses are net neutral or slightly negative.