Washington SB5853: Public official notification

What the bill says

An act Relating to protecting elected officials from political violence by creating the statewide emergency public official notification system; reenacting and amending RCW 38.52.520; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.56 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.

From the introduced text:

AN ACT Relating to protecting elected officials from political violence by creating the statewide emergency public official notification system; reenacting and amending RCW 38.52.520; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.56 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. On June 14, 2025, Minnesota house of representatives speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman of the democratic caucus and her husband Mark Hortman were stalked and murdered. On that same day, Minnesota state senator of the democratic caucus John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman were stalked and shot by the same alleged individual who murdered representative Hortman and her husband. It is the intent of the legislature to streamline more efficient communication and prevent needless violence by creating an optional emergency notification system for public officials. This system will alert all public officials as soon as practicable when any enrolled public official contacts a 911 emergency communications system and upon confirmation of a targeted threat to any public official. Had an emergency notification system been implemented in Minnesota, senator Hoffman and his wife could have been notified of representative Hortman and her husband's murder and taken whatever precautions necessary to avoid harm. Therefore, this statewide emergency public official notification system promotes more efficient communication under urgent circumstances to share substantive and useful information …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Wilson, Jeff (R, 19) · primary sponsor
• Jeff Holy (R)
• Liz Lovelett (D)
• James McCune (R)
• Keith Wagoner (R)
• Perry Dozier (R)
• Nikki Torres (R)
• Shelly Short (R)
• Judith Warnick (R)
• John Braun (R)
• T'wina Nobles (D)
• Jessica Bateman (D)

Latest actions

1. February 5, 2026: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
2. February 2, 2026: Referred to Ways & Means.
3. January 30, 2026: And refer to Ways & Means.
4. January 30, 2026: SGTE - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
5. January 30, 2026: Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM.
6. January 23, 2026: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM.
7. January 12, 2026: First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
8. December 8, 2025: Prefiled for introduction.

Votes

• Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5853 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (January 30, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB5853?

SB5853 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Public official notification.

What does SB5853 do?

In its own words: An act Relating to protecting elected officials from political violence by creating the statewide emergency public official notification system; reenacting and amending RCW 38.52.520; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 42.56 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.

What is the status of SB5853?

In committee as of February 5, 2026. Latest action: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM. (February 5, 2026).

Who sponsored SB5853?

Wilson, Jeff (R, 19), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB5853?

On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5853&Year=2025