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State leaders condemn reported federal killing, move to advance ban on masked officers
Summary
At a Senate Rules Room press conference, legislative leaders pledged action after reports of a federal agent killing and said they will advance Senate Bill 5855 to ban face coverings by law-enforcement officers operating in Washington; leaders acknowledged legal risk but called the law a ‘norm enunciation.’
Senate leadership held a press conference in the Senate Rules Room to condemn a reported killing by federal agents and to preview a slate of bills aimed at protecting Washington residents from masked or unidentified law-enforcement activity.
“ I can't believe that our government is doing that to our citizens,” said Senator Petersen, who opened the event and described the weekend’s reports as “flooring” and deeply troubling. Petersen said the Senate will take “a big step tomorrow on the senate floor” to pass Senator Valdez’s bill banning face coverings for law-enforcement officers, and also plans to advance a measure restricting automated license-plate readers.
Speaker Jenkins, joined in the room by majority and floor leaders, said the caucus was “outraged” and will coordinate with Governor Ferguson and Attorney General Brown following their press conference on the matter. Jenkins described a package of companion bills—on emergency-response protections and oversight—and urged bipartisan cooperation to protect residents and first responders.
Leaders described SB 5855 as targeted mainly at federal agents who do not follow Washington’s identification norms. A senator speaking at the event said the bill is intended to affect individuals operating in Washington and includes a private right of action that would allow people alleging illegal behavior by federal agents to seek remedy in state court.
Asked whether the state has the authority to regulate federal law enforcement, Senator Petersen acknowledged uncertainty and litigation risk, saying there is “a benefit in ... norm enunciation” and that the attorney general “thinks there is a good case” to proceed. Petersen added that Washington has previously applied state law to outside actors doing work in the state and argued the bill would set a clear expectation for identification by anyone operating here.
Speakers emphasized the public-safety context: they cited cases where individuals were stopped or moved by unidentified actors and warned that those incidents have sown distrust among immigrant communities and first responders. At the same time, leaders said local officers already follow state identification rules and that the bill’s immediate practical effect would likely fall on federal actors who are not currently complying.
The leaders declined to predict the final legal outcome and noted similar measures in other states are already facing litigation. They said Senate floor action was imminent and that the bill would then need to clear House procedures and any likely court challenges before taking effect.
The press conference concluded with leaders reiterating commitments to pursue a package of bills addressing accountability, public-safety protections, and technology restrictions.
