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HB1897 • 2026

Community safety/liability

Concerning liability protections for community public safety programs.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Obras, Representative Farivar, Representative Parshley, Representative Simmons, Representative Ryu, Representative Fosse, Representative Scott, Representative Hill, Representative Macri
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Civil R & Judi
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Community safety/liability

Community safety/liability

What This Bill Does

  • Community safety/liability

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Official Summary Text

Community safety/liability

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to liability protections for community public 1
safety programs; and adding a new section to chapter 4.24 RCW.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW 4
to read as follows: 5
(1) No act or omission in the provision of core aspects of a 6
community-based public safety program: 7
(a) That is provided to a person who is experiencing a behavioral 8
health crisis, has complex behavioral health needs, or has a history 9
of legal system involvement; and 10
(b) Which is done or omitted in good faith, shall impose 11
liability upon any community-based public safety program or any 12
volunteer, agent, officer, or employee of such program acting within 13
the scope of their responsibilities. 14
(2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this 15
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.16
(a) "Community-based public safety program" means any 17
organization providing community-based responses to public order 18
issues as an alternative to jail and criminal prosecution for people 19
whose unlawful behavior stems from unmanaged substance use, mental 20
health challenges, or extreme poverty. "Community-based public safety 21
H-1069.1
HOUSE BILL 1897
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Obras, Farivar, Parshley, Simmons, Ryu, Fosse,
Scott, Hill, and Macri
Read first time 02/07/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights &
Judiciary.
p. 1 HB 1897
program" includes any organization performing a contracted role for a 1
locally funded, state-funded, or federally funded community-based 2
public safety program. 3
(b) "Core aspects of a community-based public safety program" 4
means activities directly connected to the purpose of a community-5
based public safety program, including but not limited to outreach, 6
case management, providing shelter, providing housing, traveling 7
among worksites, transporting clients, and aftercare functions.8
(3) This section does not apply to any act or omission which 9
constitutes either gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.10
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1897