HB 2000
In CommitteeHouse
Law enforcement memorial
Regarding names to be included on the Washington state law enforcement memorial.
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 adds law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty and were officially determined as such by the U.S. Department of Justice to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial, including those who died between January 1, 2020, and 2025.
- Law enforcement officers whose deaths are officially ruled 'in the line of duty' by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 will be added to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial.
- The requirement applies retroactively for five years, meaning officers who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2020 are eligible for inclusion.
- Names will be added to the memorial at the first wall update following the federal determination, ensuring timely recognition.
Who is affected
- Survivors of law enforcement officers — Families and survivors of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty may now have their loved one's name added to the memorial if the officer's death was officially ruled line-of-duty by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003.
- Washington state agencies managing the memorial — The Washington State Patrol and other state agencies responsible for maintaining the memorial will need to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Justice to verify line-of-duty determinations and update the memorial accordingly.
- Law enforcement officers and departments — Law enforcement officers and departments may benefit from increased recognition of line-of-duty deaths, potentially improving morale and public awareness of risks faced by officers.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (1)
This bill ensures symbolic recognition and closure for survivors of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, by formally including those whose deaths were federally determined as line-of-duty under the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act — a process that previously may have left some families without state-level acknowledgment.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Survivors of officers who died between 2020–2025 and whose deaths were federally determined as line-of-duty gain formal, lasting recognition — a meaningful, non-monetary benefit that affirms the sacrifice and provides emotional closure. Those whose cases were not federally determined (e.g., due to insufficient documentation or jurisdictional gaps) are not included, limiting the scope.
The Washington State Patrol and other memorial custodians gain a clear, federal-standardized criterion for inclusion, reducing administrative discretion and potential disputes — but with no added fiscal burden, as wall updates are part of existing maintenance cycles.
Law enforcement departments and officers benefit from reinforced public recognition of occupational risk, which may improve morale and public support — though the bill does not change operational policies, training, or resource allocation.
General public gains reaffirmation of state commitment to honoring public service sacrifice, which may strengthen community trust in law enforcement — though this is symbolic, not material.
Families of officers who died before 2020, or whose deaths were not federally determined as line-of-duty (e.g., due to medical events not classified as such by DOJ), receive no benefit — limiting equity in recognition.