HB 1487
In CommitteeHouse
Crime victim services
Concerning victims of crime act funding.
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 establishes a multi-year, tiered state funding commitment to stabilize and grow services for crime victims in Washington. It sets specific annual funding targets—starting at $50 million—that rise over time to $70 million, in addition to federal VOCA funds, to ensure consistent, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive support across all counties.
- Establishes a state commitment to stable, long-term funding for crime victim services, recognizing federal VOCA funding alone is too volatile to rely on.
- Requires the state legislature to appropriate $50 million per year for the 2025–2027 and 2027–2029 biennia, $60 million per year for 2029–2033, and $70 million per year starting in 2033–2035.
- Directs the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to coordinate state and federal funding using a unified application and reporting process, while ensuring state funds are used only to supplement—not replace—other funding sources.
- Requires the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to submit a report to the legislature every five years starting by December 15, 2039, with data and recommendations for future funding levels.
- Prohibits state victim services funding from being used for capital projects (e.g., building construction or major renovations).
Who is affected
- Crime victims and their families — Victims of crime and their families receive more stable, accessible, and trauma-informed services across all 39 counties, with support tailored to cultural and linguistic needs.
- Victim service providers — Local and state victim service providers (e.g., domestic violence shelters, sexual assault response coalitions, victim witness assistance programs) gain more predictable state funding to maintain staffing and program operations.
- State government agencies (e.g., Office of Crime Victims Advocacy) — State agencies—especially the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy—gain new statutory responsibilities to coordinate funding, report on service outcomes, and recommend future funding levels.
- Washington State Legislature — State legislators must include specified funding levels in future budget bills and receive periodic reports to inform future decisions on victim services funding.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
By guaranteeing $50M–$70M/year in state funding—on top of federal VOCA funds—the bill stabilizes service delivery across all 39 counties, reducing service gaps during federal funding downturns and ensuring trauma-informed, culturally responsive care for historically underserved victims (e.g., Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities).
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)-(c)The prohibition against using state funds to supplant other sources protects existing federal and local funding streams, preventing jurisdictions from reducing prior commitments in response to new state appropriations—ensuring net-new investment in victim services.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(b)The five-year reporting requirement and data-driven recommendations to the legislature create accountability and long-term planning capacity, helping align services with evolving victim needs and emerging crime trends.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)Allowing state funds to serve as federal match increases the state’s leverage to draw down additional federal VOCA dollars, effectively amplifying the impact of each state dollar—benefiting programs that otherwise lack capacity to meet matching requirements.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(c)The capital project restriction ensures funds flow directly to frontline services (e.g., counseling, advocacy, emergency shelter) rather than infrastructure, prioritizing human impact over institutional expansion.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(d)
Potential Concerns (1)
The bill mandates escalating state funding for victim services, which improves service availability and timeliness for victims—reducing secondary victimization and enabling earlier intervention, thereby strengthening community safety infrastructure.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Victims and survivors gain more reliable access to trauma-informed services, including culturally specific support—reducing barriers to safety and healing, especially for marginalized groups (e.g., non-English speakers, people with disabilities, rural residents).
Local service providers (e.g., domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers) benefit from predictable funding, reducing staff turnover and program closures—particularly critical in rural counties where federal VOCA funds alone are insufficient to sustain operations.
The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy gains new statutory authority and reporting responsibilities, strengthening its role as a coordinating body—but also increases administrative burden without explicit new staffing or resources.
The legislature gains a structured framework for future funding decisions and data-driven oversight, but also commits to escalating annual appropriations—potentially limiting budget flexibility in future biennia facing fiscal constraints.