Public safety: The Republican Safe Washington Plan

In the 2021 legislative session, majority party Democrats passed several police reform bills. Unfortunately, some of these measures – including House Bill 1310 and House Bill 1054 – had disastrous consequences for public safety. You can learn more by visiting this web page: How Democrats’ police reform bills made communities less safe.
With an understanding that these problems needed to be addressed, with law enforcement, firefighters, local governments, and citizens feeling abandoned by Democrats on the issue of public safety, and with crime surging in many communities, Republicans introduced the Safe Washington Plan prior to the 2022 legislative session. This comprehensive plan included real solutions focused on prioritizing public safety, supporting law enforcement, preventing crime, and helping victims. You can find details of the Safe Washington Plan below.
House Republicans also introduced a 2022 supplemental operating budget framework focused on Safety, Affordability, Families, and the Economy (SAFE Washington Budget). The framework would have funded police officer signing and retention bonuses, body cameras, and additional basic law enforcement training classes. Public safety has been – and will continue to be – a legislative priority for House Republicans.