Washington HB1896 authorizes local sales and use taxes to fund additional law enforcement officers and increase basic law enforcement training.

HB1896 allows counties and cities in Washington to impose a sales and use tax to hire more full-time commissioned patrol officers, aiming to meet the national average per capita. The tax revenue must be used for employing additional officers and reimbursing local agencies for temporary replacements during officer training. The bill also mandates the Criminal Justice Training Commission to increase the number of basic law enforcement training classes offered, starting with at least 27 classes in fiscal year 2026 and 28 classes from fiscal year 2027 onward.

Washington HB1896 authorizes local sales and use taxes to fund additional law enforcement officers and increase basic law enforcement training.

HB1896 allows counties and cities in Washington to impose a sales and use tax to hire more full-time commissioned patrol officers, aiming to meet the national average per capita. The tax revenue must be used for employing additional officers and reimbursing local agencies for temporary replacements during officer training. The bill also mandates the Criminal Justice Training Commission to increase the number of basic law enforcement training classes offered, starting with at least 27 classes in fiscal year 2026 and 28 classes from fiscal year 2027 onward.