Committee reports due-pass recommendations on multiple public-safety bills; animal performance ban advances

In executive session Thursday, March 27, 2025, the House Community Safety Committee reported several bills out of committee with due-pass recommendations and deferred action on one bill. The committee approved a ban on certain traveling animal acts, clarified background-check rules for peace and corrections officers, advanced trauma-informed training requirements, and approved a change to licensing rules for prison-based substance use disorder treatment; the panel deferred action on one bill until a later date.

The committee reported out engrossed Senate Bill 5065, which would prohibit allowing specified animals—listed in the bill as elephants, nonhuman primates, bears, and nondomestic felines—to perform in traveling animal acts and establishes a gross misdemeanor for related violations. Representative Farvar urged members to vote yes, characterizing the bill as a measure to protect animals kept in “egregious conditions.” The bill passed the committee by a recorded tally of 6 ayes and 3 nays.

The committee also reported Senate Bill 5224 with a due-pass recommendation. The bill requires specified peace officers and corrections officers who move between Washington law enforcement or corrections agencies (and certain transfers between certified peace officer and corrections officer roles) to comply with background-investigation requirements and removes the administrative law judge requirement in certain certification hearings. Committee members described the measure as a clarification requested by the Criminal Justice Training Commission; the bill was reported unanimously.

Members deferred action on substitute Senate Bill 5282 until the following Monday.

The committee reported second substitute Senate Bill 5356, which expands Criminal Justice Training Commission training on interacting with victims and responding to calls involving sexual- and gender-based violence and extends training to persons who investigate prohibited conduct at institutions of higher education under Title IX. The committee reported this bill unanimously.

Finally, the committee reported substitute Senate Bill 5388, a budget-related measure that changes licensing and oversight requirements for substance use disorder treatment services provided to incarcerated individuals serving prison-based Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative sentences. Sponsors said altering the licensing trigger will substantially reduce costs for the Department of Corrections (committee discussion cited a $23 million estimated savings). The bill was reported unanimously.

The committee adjourned after confirming next meetings: an executive session the following Monday at 1:30 p.m., and two work sessions on Tuesday addressing rapid DNA/testing of sexual assault kits and metal theft/disruption of services.

Votes at a glance

- Engrossed Senate Bill 5065 (animal traveling acts; gross misdemeanor): reported out, yes 6 — no 3. - Senate Bill 5224 (background investigations, certification procedure changes): reported out, unanimous (all members present voting aye). - Substitute Senate Bill 5282: deferred until next Monday. - Second Substitute Senate Bill 5356 (CJTC training on victim interaction and Title IX investigators): reported out, unanimous. - Substitute Senate Bill 5388 (prison SUD treatment licensing standards): reported out, unanimous.