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Evergreen Ledger

ESHB 2015

Signed

House

Public safety funding

Improving public safety funding by providing resources to local governments and state and local criminal justice agencies, and authorizing a local option tax.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Last Action: May 19, 2025
Status: C 350 L 25
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill creates a new state fund to support local public safety efforts by distributing state appropriations to participating cities and counties, authorizes local governments to impose a 0.1% sales/use tax for criminal justice purposes, and establishes a grant program for law enforcement agencies to hire, train, and retain officers—subject to meeting specific policy and training standards.

  • Creates the supplemental criminal justice account in the state treasury and requires quarterly distributions to participating cities and counties based on population.
  • Establishes a local law enforcement grant program administered by the Criminal Justice Training Commission to support hiring, retaining, and training law enforcement officers, with priority for agencies meeting specific policy and training compliance standards.
  • Authorizes cities and counties to impose a 0.1% local sales and use tax by June 30, 2027, with revenues required to be used for criminal justice purposes—including domestic violence services and community outreach.
  • Sets eligibility requirements for grant funding, including adoption of state-recommended policies (e.g., use of force, domestic violence 911 response), compliance with 40-hour crisis intervention team training (80% officer compliance required), and 100% compliance with trauma-informed training.
  • Limits grant funding to specific uses: officer recruitment and retention bonuses, required trainings, and broader public safety efforts like mental health crisis response and emergency planning.

Who is affected

  • Local governments (cities and counties) — Cities and counties that choose to impose the new 0.1% local sales/use tax and receive grants from the state are eligible to receive quarterly funding based on population and to apply for grant money to support law enforcement hiring, training, and public safety programs.
  • Local and tribal law enforcement agencies — Law enforcement agencies (including tribal police) in participating jurisdictions can apply for grants to hire and retain officers, provide required trainings, and fund community-based public safety initiatives.
  • General public (residents) — Residents of participating cities and counties may see a small increase in sales or use taxes (0.1%) that funds local public safety and criminal justice services, including domestic violence support and mental health crisis response.
  • State agencies (Criminal Justice Training Commission, Office of the Attorney General) — The Criminal Justice Training Commission and Office of the Attorney General will be responsible for developing grant application processes, evaluating eligibility, and tracking compliance with training and policy requirements.
Effective: July 1, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill creates a new supplemental criminal justice account in the state treasury, funded by the state biennial budget for 2025–2027. It also authorizes local governments to impose a 0.1% local sales and use tax, with revenues dedicated to criminal justice purposes. The fiscal impact depends on how many local governments adopt the tax and how much revenue is raised; the state will distribute quarterly payments to participating jurisdictions based on population. Grant funding is subject to appropriations.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 20, 2026 at 2:15 AM

Pro/Con Analysis

Potential Benefits (5)

  • Grant funds may be used for mental health crisis response and community outreach—services that reduce over-policing and support non-arrest interventions—potentially improving trust and outcomes for vulnerable populations, especially those with mental illness or experiencing homelessness.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)(d)

  • Mandates for domestic violence 911 response policies and firearm relinquishment procedures align with evidence-based practices to improve safety for victims, particularly women and marginalized communities disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(c)

  • Quarterly per-capita distributions to participating jurisdictions provide predictable, stable funding for local public safety, helping smaller or fiscally strained counties afford baseline law enforcement support they may not otherwise be able to sustain.

    Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1

  • The 0.1% local sales tax is dedicated exclusively to criminal justice purposes, including domestic violence services—ensuring that revenue directly supports community safety infrastructure rather than being diverted to general funds.

    Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(3)

  • Grant-funded officer recruitment bonuses and retention incentives may help fill critical vacancies in law enforcement, especially in rural or underserved areas, improving local response capacity and job opportunities in public safety.

    Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Potential Concerns (5)

  • Local governments must impose the 0.1% sales tax to be eligible for grant funding, effectively coercing jurisdictions—especially those with fiscal constraints or opposition to new taxes—into adopting a tax they may not otherwise choose, limiting local fiscal autonomy.

    Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(2)(g)

  • The 80% compliance requirement for crisis intervention team training may be difficult for small or rural agencies with limited staffing and training capacity, potentially excluding them from grant funding despite genuine need and capacity to serve communities effectively.

    Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(2)(d)

  • Grant funds may be used for “community outreach and assistance programs” and “mental health crisis response,” but the bill does not require or incentivize coordination with existing community-based behavioral health or social service providers, risking duplication, fragmentation, or co-option of non-law enforcement services by police departments.

    Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(3)(d)

  • The per-capita distribution formula rewards larger jurisdictions over smaller ones in absolute terms, even if per-capita equity is intended—smaller counties may receive insufficient funds to meaningfully impact public safety, while larger cities get bulk of resources regardless of need or crime rates.

    Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(3)

  • The definition of “criminal justice purposes” is broad and includes “ancillary benefit to the civil justice system,” which could allow funds to be used for non-criminal justice functions (e.g., civil court support, family court services), blurring accountability and potentially diverting revenue from core public safety.

    Public SafetyRef: Sec. 3(4)

Who Is Most Affected

Local governments (cities and counties)Mixed Impact

Cities and counties that adopt the tax and meet grant criteria will receive state funding and have access to hiring/training grants; however, smaller or fiscally constrained jurisdictions may struggle to meet compliance thresholds and may be excluded from full benefit.

Local and tribal law enforcement agenciesMixed Impact

Law enforcement agencies in participating jurisdictions gain access to new funding for hiring, training, and community programs—but must meet stringent policy and training compliance, which may strain small departments with limited administrative capacity.

General public (residents)Mixed Impact

Residents in participating jurisdictions face a small 0.1% sales tax increase, but may benefit from improved access to crisis response, domestic violence services, and more officers on the street—though benefits may be uneven if funding flows primarily to urban areas.

State agencies (Criminal Justice Training Commission, Office of the Attorney General)Positive Impact

The Criminal Justice Training Commission and Office of the Attorney General gain expanded authority and responsibility for grant administration and policy standard-setting, increasing their influence over local law enforcement practices.