Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Community Safety Committee
HB 2648
Brief Description: Concerning state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement officials.
Sponsors: Representatives Fosse, Ramel and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires on-duty peace officers

     to activate body worn cameras and dash cameras when encountering United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees conducting immigration enforcement activities and to report such encounters to their employing agencies.

  • Requires the Attorney General's Office to represent a peace officer in any proceeding that arises from the peace officer's actions taken in compliance with these requirements.
  • Requires the state to indemnify and hold harmless a peace officer for any judgment or fine levied against the peace officer in any proceeding that arises from actions taken by the peace officer in compliance with these requirements.
Hearing Date: 1/29/26
Staff: Lena Langer (786-7192).
Background:

General Authority and Limited Authority Washington Peace Officers.

A general authority Washington peace officer is a fully compensated and elected, appointed, or employed officer of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency who is commissioned to enforce state criminal laws generally.  A general authority Washington law enforcement agency is any agency, department, or division of a municipal corporation, political subdivision, or other unit of local government of the state, and any agency, department, or division of state government, having as its primary function the detection and apprehension of persons committing infractions or violating traffic or criminal laws in general.  The Washington State Patrol and the Department of Fish and Wildlife are both general authority Washington law enforcement agencies. 

 

A limited authority Washington peace officer is a fully compensated officer of a limited authority Washington law enforcement agency empowered by that agency to detect or apprehend violators of the laws in some or all of the limited subject areas for which that agency is responsible.  A limited authority Washington peace officer may be a specially commissioned Washington peace officer if otherwise qualified for such status.  A limited authority Washington law enforcement agency is any agency, political subdivision, or unit of local government, and any agency, department, or division of state government, having as one of its functions the apprehension or detection of persons committing infractions or violating traffic or criminal laws of limited subject areas.  State law provides a nonexhaustive list of limited authority law enforcement agencies, which includes: 

  • the Department of Natural Resources;
  • the Department of Social and Health Services; 
  • the Gambling Commission;
  • the Lottery Commission;
  • the Parks and Recreation Commission;
  • the Utilities and Transportation Commission;
  • the Liquor and Cannabis Board;
  • the Office of the Insurance Commissioner;
  • the Department of Corrections;
  • the Office of Independent Investigations; and
  • the Department of Labor and Industries. 

 

Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security that enforces violations of federal border control, customs, trade, and immigration laws. 
Summary of Bill:

When an on-duty general authority Washington peace officer or limited authority Washington peace officer encounters an individual the peace officer has reasonable suspicion is a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee conducting immigration enforcement activities, the peace officer must:

  • activate their body worn camera if equipped with a body worn camera;
  • activate their dash camera if they are in their official vehicle and the vehicle is equipped with a dash camera;
  • immediately report the encounter to their employing agency so the agency may notify the community in a manner consistent with the agency's policies and procedures; and
  • after the encounter, document and report the encounter with their employing agency.

 

When documenting and reporting such activities, the peace officer must attempt to:

  • contact the reporting party, if any;
  • confirm the identity of the individual the peace officer suspects is conducting immigration enforcement by requesting official identification, if safe and feasible; and
  • refrain from taking actions that may escalate the situation. 

 

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) must represent a peace officer in any civil or criminal proceeding that arises from actions taken by the peace officer in compliance with these requirements if the action was taken in good faith while the peace officer was acting within their scope of employment.  The AGO's representation must be provided at no cost to the peace officer. 

 

The state must indemnify and hold harmless a peace officer for any judgment or fine levied against the peace officer in any civil or criminal proceeding arising from actions taken by the peace officer in compliance with these requirements if the action was taken in good faith while the peace officer was acting within their scope of employment. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 23, 2026.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.