ESHB 2508 — Clarifying the scope of authority of the office of independent investigations to align with current operations and practices and to include public disclosure requirements and protect privacy.

What this bill does

Expands the Office of Independent Investigations' (OII's) investigatory jurisdiction to include certain incidents and prior investigations involving use of deadly force by an involved officer regardless of the date the incident occurred, or any other use of force by an involved officer that may have caused or contributed to a death. Requires the involved agency to immediately contact the OII about any incident involving any use of force by an involved officer that may have caused or contributed to death, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm, or any in-custody death. Requires the OII to receive access to specified reports and information in the custody and control of any responding fire department or ambulance service, subject to certain exceptions. Modifies the scope of an independent investigation team's authority to investigate incidents at the OII's request. Eliminates references to specific types of peace officers and agencies from the definitions of involved officer and involved agency. Exempts specified records related to the OII's reviews and investigations from the Public Records Act.

From the Washington State Legislature's nonpartisan staff bill analysis. Read the full analysis ↗

Floor votes

• House — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · February 16, 2026
  90 yea · 6 nay · 2 not voting
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · March 4, 2026
  44 yea · 4 nay · 1 not voting

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Other bills sponsored by Entenman

• HB 1556 — Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.
• HB 1843 — Concerning students' eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits.
• ESHB 2015 — Improving public safety funding by providing resources to local governments and state and local criminal justice agencies, and authorizing a local option tax.