Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2387: Elected sheriffs
Status: In committee, January 27, 2026
Concerning elected sheriffs.
What the bill says
An act Relating to clarifying that elected sheriffs who are not certified peace officers pursuant to chapter 43.101 RCW cannot personally perform law enforcement actions other than those directed or authorized by the Constitution or laws of the state of Washington, specifying that discretionary decertification of an elected sheriff for conduct that occurred after their term of office began initiates a recall of that sheriff, and specifying that mandatory decertification of an elected sheriff for conduct that occurred after their term of office began initiates a recall of that sheriff without t…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to clarifying that elected sheriffs who are not certified peace officers pursuant to chapter 43.101 RCW cannot personally perform law enforcement actions other than those directed or authorized by the Constitution or laws of the state of Washington, specifying that discretionary decertification of an elected sheriff for conduct that occurred after their term of office began initiates a recall of that sheriff, and specifying that mandatory decertification of an elected sheriff for conduct that occurred after their term of office began initiates a recall of that sheriff without the need to circulate, collect, or canvass supporting signatures; amending RCW 29A.56.180; adding a new section to chapter 36.28 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 36.28 RCW to read as follows: (1) An elected sheriff who is not a certified peace officer pursuant to chapter 43.101 RCW shall have all authority of the office of sheriff but shall not personally perform any law enforcement action that is reserved exclusively for certified peace officers. However, an elected sheriff who is not a certified peace officer pursuant to chapter 43.101 RCW shall maintain authority to take all actions as directed or authorized by any provision of the Constitution or laws of the state of Washington. (2) Whenever the certification of …