2156 AMH GOOD H3578.1
HB 2156 - H AMD 1796
By Representative Goodman
ADOPTED AS AMENDED 02/16/2026
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.10 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The attorney general shall designate investigator positions that are limited authority Washington peace officers as defined in RCW 10.93.020.
(2) An investigator designated as a limited authority Washington peace officer may investigate economic and financial crimes.
(3) The authority of an investigator in this section does not include the power to detain or arrest, and an investigator shall not be armed.
(4) The authority of an investigator in this section to serve search warrants is limited to electronic service after the search warrant is approved by a judicial officer. An investigator shall not physically serve a search warrant for business records.
(5) An investigator who is a limited authority Washington peace officer under this section is subject to the relevant training requirements in chapter 43.101 RCW.
(6) The investigative authority or criminal jurisdiction of any other law enforcement agency is not modified by this section.
(7) For the purposes of this section, "investigator" means an employee of the office of the attorney general whose job responsibilities include investigation of a suspected economic or financial crime. "Investigator" does not include office of the attorney general personnel identified in RCW 74.67.010."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Makes the following changes:
• Allows an Attorney General's Office (AGO) investigator who investigates economic and financial crimes to be designated as a limited authority Washington peace officer.
• Allows an AGO investigator to serve search warrants electronically that have been approved by a judicial officer. Prohibits an AGO investigator from physically serving a search warrant for a business record.
• Requires an AGO investigator to comply with relevant training requirements for limited authority Washington peace officers from the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• Defines "investigator" as an AGO employee whose job responsibilities include investigation of suspected economic or financial crimes, rather than alleged criminal activity, and excludes AGO personnel within the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
• Removes the requirement that the AGO receive a grant of concurrent criminal authority for an investigator to be granted peace officer power.
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