Bad Bills That Passed
State takeover of local Sheriffs
Senate Bill 5974 fundamentally alters the Office of the Sheriff in Washington state by imposing strict new eligibility requirements and empowering state bureaucrats to remove elected Sheriffs from office.
For the first time, the state Legislature creates a statutory checklist that every candidate for Sheriff must meet. Beyond these initial hurdles, the bill requires all candidates to undergo intrusive background investigations by the Washington State Patrol before they can appear on the ballot, or shortly after election certification.
Most significantly, this legislation grants the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) the authority to remove a Sheriff who was duly elected by the people. Under this bill, if a Sheriff loses their peace officer certification, the office is automatically declared “vacant.” This bypasses the traditional recall process, allowing a state commission to override the will of the voters and remove an elected leader. Additionally, the bill requires Sheriffs to restrict their volunteer and cadet programs, prohibiting them from enforcing laws, carrying firearms, using force, or using necessary technology, such as law enforcement databases.
Why is this a bad policy?
- It effectively nullifies the voice of the voters. The most dangerous aspect of this bill is that it transfers the power to choose—and remove—a Sheriff from the local electorate to state-level bureaucrats. By declaring the office “vacant” the moment a Sheriff loses certification, the Legislature is creating a loophole to bypass the constitutional recall process. Voters elect Sheriffs to represent their specific community values and priorities. This bill says that the judgment of a commission in Olympia matters more than the ballot box. It sets a precedent in which administrative decisions can overturn the results of a democratic election, stripping citizens of their right to choose their top law enforcement officer.
- It creates a pay-to-play barrier for public office. By mandating that candidates must undergo and often pay for their own background investigations before they can even serve, this bill places a financial burden on running for office that favors the wealthy or the well-connected. A public office should be open to any qualified citizen, but this legislation adds layers of red tape and expenses that will inevitably discourage good candidates from stepping forward. This shrinks the pool of leadership and limits the choices available to voters, particularly in smaller or rural counties where resources are already scarce.
- It disarms and sidelines vital community volunteers. Sheriffs in rural and underfunded counties often rely on training volunteers and reserve officers to force-multiply their limited staff. This bill handcuffs those efforts by stripping volunteers of the tools they need to be effective. By banning volunteers from carrying firearms, using force when necessary, or even accessing law enforcement databases, the state is rendering these programs toothless. It puts well-meaning volunteers in dangerous situations without the means to protect themselves or the public, ultimately forcing Sheriffs to disband programs that have kept communities safe for decades.
- It imposes a “Seattle-centric” model on rural Washington. This bill creates a one-size-fits-all standard that ignores the diverse needs of Washington’s 39 counties. What constitutes necessary qualifications or appropriate volunteer duties in a dense urban center often makes no sense in a sprawling rural county where backup is an hour away. By stripping local Sheriffs of the discretion to manage their own personnel and set their own standards, the state is forcing rural communities to operate under rules designed for urban bureaucracies. This erosion of local control ensures that Sheriffs are answerable to state lawmakers rather than the neighbors they are sworn to protect.
Bottom line
SB 5974 is a direct attack on the independence of the Office of the Sheriff. It treats elected Sheriffs like mid-level state employees rather than constitutional officers accountable to the people. By adding costly barriers to entry, empowering a state commission to remove elected leaders, and gutting volunteer programs, this bill creates a centralized police-state structure that weakens local public safety and disrespects the will of the voters.
In the news:
Last updated: April 10, 2026 - 11:11 am
Timeline:
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Signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson on April 1
- Bill takes effect on April 30, 2026.
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Passed the full House chamber on March 5
- Passed with a vote of 54-42-2
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Executive action taken (moved from committee) in the House Community Safety Committee at 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 24
- Voted out of committee party-line (6-3)
- Watch the executive session on TVW
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Public hearing in the House Community Safety Committee at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 23
- Send a comment to your state legislators on your position
- Get email notifications about this bill
- Watch the public hearing on TVW
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Referred to the House Community Safety Committee on Feb. 14
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Passed the full Senate Chamber on Feb. 12
- Party-line vote (30-19)
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Executive action taken (moved from committee) in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 10:30 a.m. on Feb 9.
- Voted out of committee party-line (15-8)
- Watch the executive session on TVW
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Public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 5
- Send a comment to your state legislators on your position
- Get email notifications about this bill
- Watch the committee hearing on TVW
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Executive action taken (moved from committee) in the Senate Law & Justice Committee at 10:30 a.m. on Jan 22
- Voted out of committee party-line (5-4)
- Watch the executive session on TVW
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Public hearing in the Senate Law & Justice Committee at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 15
- Send a comment to your state legislators on your position
- Get email notifications about this bill
- Watch the committee hearing on TVW