Bill > HB1095

This bill addresses the challenges of attracting and retaining law enforcement officers by authorizing counties and cities to impose a 0.10 percent sales and use tax to support law enforcement staffing. The legislation recognizes the difficulties in recruiting police officers, citing a Department of Justice report highlighting a historic crisis in law enforcement hiring. Counties and cities can implement this tax in stages based on population size, with smaller jurisdictions (under 50,000 residents) able to impose the tax by January 1, 2026, mid-sized jurisdictions (50,000-175,000 residents) by January 1, 2027, and all jurisdictions by January 1, 2028. At least 50 percent of the tax revenue must be used specifically for attracting and retaining commissioned law enforcement officers, while the remaining funds can be used for broader criminal justice purposes, which include activities that assist the criminal justice system, such as domestic violence services and programs aimed at reducing interactions with the criminal justice system. The tax would be collected by the state and credited against state sales tax, providing a mechanism for local governments to generate additional funding for law enforcement recruitment and retention without imposing an additional financial burden on taxpayers.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1095&Year=2025&Initiative=false