HB 1799
In CommitteeHouse
Violent firearm offenses
Concerning persons convicted of violent offenses with a firearm.
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
HB 1799 blocks people convicted of violent offenses involving a firearm from earning early release credits for the portion of their sentence tied to the firearm enhancement. It also tightens rules for who can earn up to 50% early release, updates procedures for calculating early release time for time served before sentencing, and expands housing and supervision requirements for those released early.
- People convicted of violent offenses involving a firearm (including those with a firearm enhancement under RCW 9.94A.533(3)) are barred from earning early release credits for the portion of their sentence tied to that enhancement.
- The Department of Corrections must conduct risk assessments using the tool recommended by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to determine eligibility for expanded early release (up to 50% of sentence) under strict criteria.
- Earned early release is capped at 10% of sentence for most serious violent or Class A sex offenses committed on or after July 1, 2003, and at 15% for those committed before that date.
- Eligibility for up to 50% early release is limited to people who are not high-risk, not convicted of violent/sex/domestic violence/residential burglary/methamphetamine delivery, and meet programming and conduct requirements.
- The Department of Corrections must require approved residence plans before releasing eligible offenders to community custody, and may deny release if safety or compliance concerns exist.
- If housing cannot be secured, the Department may place offenders in partial confinement for up to 3 months or provide rental vouchers for up to 6 months with supportive services.
Who is affected
- People convicted of violent firearm offenses — Individuals convicted of violent offenses involving a firearm will be barred from earning early release credits for the portion of their sentence tied to the firearm enhancement.
- People serving long-term or high-risk sentences — People serving sentences for serious violent offenses, sex offenses, or other specified crimes may face stricter limits on how much early release time they can earn — or be barred entirely if they fall under certain high-risk or high-violence categories.
- County jail administrators and staff — County jails must now certify time served and any lost early release credits when transferring individuals to state correctional facilities, and the Department of Corrections must adjust those calculations to match state standards.
- Department of Corrections staff and programs — The Washington State Department of Corrections must implement new procedures for calculating and verifying earned release time, conduct risk assessments, and manage housing and voucher programs for eligible individuals transitioning to community custody.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
By explicitly barring early release for individuals convicted of violent firearm offenses and other high-violence crimes, the bill aims to reduce the risk of reoffending among those most likely to commit violent crimes again—empirical studies (e.g., Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2022) show that violent recidivism is highest among those with prior violent convictions, so targeted restrictions may improve community safety.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(6)(b); Sec. 1(3)(d)(ii)(A)-(F)Requiring approved residence plans and allowing denial of release if housing or safety concerns exist may reduce recidivism by ensuring individuals are placed in stable, supervised environments—research shows housing instability is a strong predictor of reoffending, and structured transition support improves outcomes.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(a)-(f)Linking early release eligibility to participation in programming (e.g., substance abuse, mental health, employment training) and requiring risk assessments may improve long-term outcomes for lower-risk individuals, increasing their chances of successful reintegration and reducing future crime.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(d)(iv)-(v); Sec. 1(4)The bill formalizes county jail certification of time served and early release credits lost, improving consistency between local and state correctional systems and reducing administrative disputes over sentence calculations—though this adds administrative burden to jails, it may reduce legal challenges and litigation costs.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b); Sec. 1(5)(e)The rental voucher program with supportive services may help some individuals avoid homelessness upon release, especially those without family support—though the 6-month cap and requirement to use approved providers may limit scalability and long-term impact.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(d)(ii); Sec. 1(5)(e)
Potential Concerns (5)
By expanding the scope of offenses barred from early release—including violent offenses involving firearms, Class A sex offenses, residential burglary, and methamphetamine delivery—the bill increases the number of people incarcerated for longer periods, potentially straining correctional resources and reducing opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration, which research suggests can increase recidivism for those released after long incarceration spells.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a), (6)(b); Sec. 1(3)(d)(ii)(A)-(F)The bill introduces a risk assessment tool and denies early release to those classified as high-risk or convicted of certain violent offenses, but the criteria for 'high risk' and 'violent offense' are broad and may misclassify individuals—especially those with non-physical or non-firearm-related histories—leading to unnecessary prolonged incarceration and reduced community safety through delayed rehabilitation.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(d)(i)-(v) and (4); Sec. 1(5)(c)The rental voucher program for up to 6 months with supportive services may help some individuals transition, but the requirement to secure approved housing before release—combined with the ability to deny release if housing cannot be secured—risks trapping people in partial confinement or delaying release, disproportionately affecting those without family or community support networks, especially in high-cost urban areas.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(d)(ii); Sec. 1(5)(e)The bill creates a permanent, multi-tiered bar to earned early release for people convicted of certain offenses—even if they were committed decades ago or involved no violence—and prohibits retroactive relief, effectively denying a meaningful second chance to individuals who have served long sentences and demonstrated rehabilitation, violating principles of proportionality and individualized sentencing.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(d)(ii)(A)-(G); Sec. 1(3)(d)(iii)By allowing up to 3 months of partial confinement as an alternative to housing vouchers, the bill may increase demand for limited correctional facility beds, potentially diverting state funds from job training, education, or housing programs that could support long-term economic stability for formerly incarcerated people.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(d)(i); Sec. 1(5)(d)(ii)
Who Is Most Affected
People convicted of violent firearm offenses will be barred from earning early release credits for the firearm enhancement portion of their sentence—this is a negative impact, as it extends their incarceration and reduces incentives for rehabilitation during that portion of the sentence.
People serving long-term or high-risk sentences—especially those convicted of serious violent or Class A sex offenses—will face stricter limits (10% or 15% cap) or complete ineligibility for early release, increasing their time incarcerated and reducing opportunities for reintegration, even if they have demonstrated good behavior.
County jail administrators and staff will face added administrative duties to certify time served and early release credits lost, but this may reduce disputes over sentence calculations and improve data consistency with state systems—mixed impact, with modest burden increase but potential long-term efficiency gains.
Department of Corrections staff will face increased responsibilities—including risk assessments, housing plan reviews, voucher administration, and data collection—which may strain resources and increase costs, but could also improve accountability and transparency if implemented effectively.
Taxpayers and state budget stakeholders will face higher correctional costs due to longer incarceration periods for firearm-involved offenders and expanded housing/voucher programs, though the fiscal impact is not quantified—this represents a negative fiscal impact for the public, especially if the savings from reduced recidivism are not realized.