Day 22: Lawmakers study changing peace officers' use of force practices

The Senate Law & Justice Committee heard public testimony on Substitute House Bill 1735, which would modify the standard for use of force by peace officers. The bill passed the house 90 to 5 on Jan. 28, and would have to pass the Senate for an opportunity for the Governor’s signature in order to become law.

The Senate Law & Justice Committee heard public testimony on Substitute House Bill 1735, which would modify the standard for use of force by peace officers.

The bill passed the house 90 to 5 on January 28 and must pass the Senate for an opportunity for the Governor’s signature in order to become law. 

SHB 1735 - 2021-22

Bill Information: Modifying the standard for use of force by peace officers.

• Original Bill (pdf)
• Substitute Bill (pdf)
• Bill Information Page

Sponsors: Johnson, J., Rule, Wicks, Bateman, Callan, Goodman, Macri, Orwall, Ramel, Ramos, Santos, Shewmake, Wylie, Simmons, Stonier
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately
Status: Jan 28 1st substitute bill substituted (PS 22). Third reading, passed; yeas, 90; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 3. (see full roll call below)

Bill moves to Senate.

Feb 8 Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice held February 8 at 8:30 AM.

Committee Materials

House Bill Analysis 2022
House Bill Report
Substitute House Bill Report
Substitute Senate Bill Report (Orig.)
House Committee on Public Safety Committee Report

The bill analysis and bill report are prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Expands peace officer authority to use physical force.
•  Modifies the requirement to exercise reasonable care.
• Provides that the standard for use of physical force does not limit or restrict a peace officers authority or responsibility to perform life-saving or community caretaking functions.
• Provides that the standard for use of physical force does not prevent a peace officer from responding to requests for assistance or service.

House Brief Summary of Bill

• Expands the authority for a peace officer to use physical force, subject to the requirement to exercise reasonable care, to include circumstances where such force is necessary to take a person into custody or provide assistance in circumstances involving involuntary treatment or evaluation under civil or forensic commitment laws, take a minor into protective custody in certain circumstances, or execute or enforce a court order.
• Modifies the requirement to exercise reasonable care before using force, including defining "de-escalation tactics" and clarifying when de-escalation tactics and less lethal alternatives must be used by a peace officer before using physical or deadly force.
• Provides that the standard for use of force by peace officers does not limit or restrict a peace officer's authority or responsibility to perform lifesaving measures or perform community caretaking functions to protect health and safety, and does not prevent a peace officer from responding to requests for assistance or service by specified individuals and members of the public.

House of Representative Roll Call 

January 28, 2022 Yeas: 90 Nays: 5 Absent: 0 Excused: 3

Voting Yea: Representatives Abbarno, Bateman, Berg, Bergquist, Berry, Boehnke, Bronoske, Caldier, Callan, Chambers, Chandler, Chapman, Chopp, Cody, Corry, Davis, Dent, Dolan, Donaghy, Duerr, Dufault, Dye, Entenman, Eslick, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Gilday, Goehner, Goodman, Graham, Gregerson, Griffey, Hackney, Hansen, Harris, Harris-Talley, Jacobsen, Johnson, J., Kirby, Klicker, Klippert, Kloba, Kretz, Leavitt, Lekanoff, MacEwen, Macri, Maycumber, Morgan, Mosbrucker, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Paul, Peterson, Pollet, Ramel, Ramos, Riccelli, Robertson, Rude, Rule, Ryu, Santos, Schmick, Sells, Senn, Shewmake, Slatter, Springer, Steele, Stokesbary, Stonier, Sullivan, Sutherland, Taylor, Thai, Tharinger, Valdez, Vick, Volz, Walen, Wicks, Wilcox, Wylie, Ybarra, Young, Jinkins

Voting Nay: Representatives Chase, Kraft, McCaslin, McEntire, Walsh

Absent: Excused: Representatives Barkis, Hoff, Simmons

Learn more about Substitute House Bill 1735.