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State leaders vow action after federal enforcement incidents, including ban on masked law-enforcement agents
Summary
Legislative leaders said they will press bills this week aimed at federal agents operating in Washington, including a proposal to ban law-enforcement face coverings (Senate Bill 5855) and measures to restrict automated license-plate readers, while acknowledging legal questions about state authority over federal officers.
Unidentified Speaker 3 said legislative leaders would move quickly in response to recent federal enforcement actions and announced plans to advance a bill banning law-enforcement face coverings, citing accountability concerns.
"We're gonna take a big step tomorrow on the senate floor, by passing senator Valdez's bill about, banning masking of law enforcement so that at least we can have some accountability about who the people are who are doing, these kinds of actions," Speaker 3 said, characterizing the measure as aimed at federal agents who have masked their identities.
The measure under discussion — referenced in the availability as Senate Bill 5855 — was described by Unidentified Speaker 11 as focused primarily on federal ICE agents. "So this bill basically impacts, federal ICE agents," Speaker 11 said, adding that the proposal "does have a private right of action" that would allow individuals to seek remedies if they believe unlawful conduct occurred.
Legal survivability was raised by others in the room. Unidentified Speaker 14 pointed to existing litigation over a similar California ban and asked whether the policy could withstand court review. "This similar ban in California is are being already being litigated," Speaker 14 said, asking what makes Washington's version likely to survive scrutiny.
Speakers debating scope said the bill is intended to apply evenly to law enforcement operating in Washington, though leaders acknowledged limits to state authority over federal actors. Speaker 3 argued the bill helps enunciate a state norm of open identification, while Speaker 11 said local law enforcement is already following identification rules and that federal behavior is the main issue. "It does apply to everybody, but it does not impact a local law enforcement because they're already following the laws of this land," Speaker 11 said.
Leaders also described related bills they expect to move, including a measure limiting automated license-plate readers and a House bill to prevent some former ICE agents from later becoming Washington law enforcement. Speakers said they would review legal advice and consult with the governor and attorney general as the bills proceed to committee and, potentially, the floor.
No formal vote occurred at the briefing. The leaders framed the bills as policy signals and tools to press federal actors and to provide private remedies to residents who say they were harmed by unidentified officers. They also warned the measures may face legal challenges and said state attorneys would review enforceability if the bills reach the governor's desk.
The leadership availability concluded with a pledge to pursue the package in committee and on the floor as appropriate and to coordinate with the governor and attorney general on legal strategy.
