Leaders press for mask and camera rules as short session begins

Sen. Jamie Peterson said the Senate is moving Sen. Valdez's mask bill out of the rules committee and expects floor consideration in about a week. Leadership framed the measure and its companion camera bill as responses to what they called federal overreach and argued that the state must preserve transparency and accountability for law enforcement.

On enforcement, an unnamed speaker said the Senate version includes a private right of action to allow individuals to sue to enforce state law if federal agencies decline to comply. "If you notice on the senate version, there's a private right of action...and that is part of that enforcement mechanism," the speaker said.

Speakers at the press conference repeatedly said Washington state law enforcement are not engaging in face-covering behavior locally and that recent local police social-media posts were intended to reassure residents they can identify officers by badges or logos. Leaders cautioned against private citizens taking enforcement into their own hands and said doxing of officers is unacceptable; Sen. Peterson said she would "absolutely" call out doxing behavior.

Leaders said hearings in both chambers this week will determine timing and that short-session rules make exposure in committee important for the bills' prospects. They also noted bipartisan interest on some public-safety items but warned that final outcomes depend on committee votes and caucus alignment.