On Friday, WACOPS announced the introduction of HB 2220, a no-cost recruitment and retention bill aimed at addressing Washington’s historic law enforcement staffing crisis by improving objectivity and consistency in the state’s peace officer certification system. The bill has been introduced and is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, January 15 at 8:00 AM in the House Public Safety Committee. Now is the time to sign in PRO.

HB 2220 focuses on recruitment and retention by making targeted adjustments to the state’s law enforcement certification framework. Consistent with other licensed professions, the proposal reimplements a “clear and convincing” evidence standard for decertification decisions and updates the composition of officer decertification panels to appropriately represent firsthand experience. These changes reinforce accountability and assure commissioned officers that career-impacting decision making is held to an equally high standard.

WACOPS needs your help to support this bill. Please read and share the HB 2220 fact sheet with your friends, family, and neighbors and encourage them to engage in the legislative process by signing in PRO for HB 2220. All WACOPS members are asked to take the few minutes to sign in of support of this bill. You do not need to wait until the scheduled hearing.

How to Sign in PRO

Visit https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/house and follow these directions:

1. Choose the committee (Community Safety) and meeting date and time (1/15/26 at 8:00 AM), then choose the bill for which you would like to register (HB 2220).

2. Choose “I would like my position noted for the legislative record.” Registration will close 1 hour before the start time of the meeting.

3. Enter your registration information (for address, only city/state/zip is required). Your registered position will be made available to legislative members and staff of the committee, and will be included in the legislative record.