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Washington lawmakers, advocates press Legislature to shore up victim services and advance survivor protections
Summary
State legislators and King County victim-service leaders urged the Washington Legislature to backfill declining federal VOCA funding with a proposed $50 million floor and to pass bills expanding co-responder programs, clarifying protection-order processes and strengthening penalties for ghost guns.
Senator Manka Dhingra convened a Valentine’s Day press conference in King County to highlight rising domestic violence and urge state action to protect survivors and stabilize victim services.
Colleen McIngles, director of victim services at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told the gathering that federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding has fallen sharply and that victim-service programs face layoffs and closures without state intervention. McIngles characterized recent VOCA allocations as the lowest in a decade and said cuts have been dramatic, stressing that jurisdictions and community providers are already preparing for deep service reductions.
Representative Lauren Davis, sponsor of the House companion to Senate Bill 5362, said 140 victim-service agencies across Washington rely on VOCA and face a projected roughly 50% funding decline without state action. Davis said the legislation would provide state funds to “backfill the VOCA decline” and promised more predictable funding. She also described House Bill 1498, which she said would provide over $4,000,000 per year to expand domestic violence co-responder programs that send a victim advocate to scenes after law enforcement has secured them.
Representative Osman Salahuddin introduced House Bill 1484, saying it would ensure survivors receive consistent legal protections regardless of age and would align protections with the gravity of the underlying offense rather than a survivor’s age.
Senator Jesse Salomon described Senate Bill 5202 as a set of technical fixes and new protections tied to protection orders: improving notification when a person subject to an order petitions to restore firearm rights, creating an easier process for protection orders that began under a parent’s name to continue when a minor turns 18, and increasing penalties for possession of untraceable “ghost guns” by people subject to protection orders. Salomon said SB 5202 passed the Senate the previous day and urged House consideration.
Laurel Redden, director of communications and policy at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, described the network’s services — including a 24‑hour resource line, medical and legal advocacy, therapy and family services — and warned of a “funding cliff” on July 1 that could force providers to reduce or close services. Redden and other speakers thanked sponsors of SB 5362 and related bills and called on the Legislature and governor to prioritize stable funding so survivors can access help.
Speakers also highlighted education-related proposals: Senator Tina Orwall described a college-focused bill to require in-person, trauma-informed training and a student bill of rights, and a K–12 measure developed with OSPI that includes bystander training and protections against retaliation for students who report abuse. Representative (Chair) Taylor described House Bill 1620, a parenting-plan measure to provide consistent guidance in family-law cases involving allegations of domestic violence.
No formal votes were taken at the press conference. Speakers repeatedly urged the Legislature to pass the named bills and to include a state funding floor so victim-service agencies are not forced to cut services. The event concluded with an invitation to continue the conversation and follow-up outreach.
