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Committee advances substitute restricting outside military forces after rejecting amendment on ‘hybrid’ activations
Summary
A substitute to House Bill 1321 addressing the governor’s authority over out-of-state military forces was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. An amendment that would have clarified exceptions for mutual-aid or hybrid activations drew debate and failed.
The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee voted to report substitute House Bill 1321 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, approving language that clarifies the governor’s authority to limit the activity of outside militia or military forces in the state.
Representative Walsh moved Amendment Shift 061, which would have permitted a military force from another state to enter Washington without the governor’s permission if the force was combating wildfires or performing law-enforcement duties under Title 32 of the U.S. Code. Walsh said she had reviewed federal and state law and sought to ensure the substitute synchronized with existing activation mechanisms, including federalization, interstate compacts and a so-called hybrid activation that can overlap the others.
Committee members rejected Shift 061. Sponsors said the substitute aligned with other states’ laws and would not impede emergency response, and they cited the Washington Military Department’s input. Representative Walsh said the amendment aimed to preserve the ability of mutually assisted or compacted forces to respond in some circumstances; the chair said she would consider the point later in the legislative process.
After roll-call and staff announcement, the substitute was reported out by a 4–2–1 tally, and committee business concluded for the session.
