Concerning the establishment of liability standards for prosecutors.

 H-1030.2

HOUSE BILL 1890

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Representatives Graham, Chase, and Walsh

Read first time 02/07/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to the establishment of liability standards for prosecutors; amending RCW 4.92.070 , 4.92.075 , and 4.96.041 ; adding a new chapter to Title 7 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Any person injured by an individual who was previously arrested for a violent offense, and subsequently released from custody before trial for such offense as a result of a state prosecutor declining to file reasonable criminal charges against the individual, has a cause of action against such prosecutor if: (a) The individual caused the injury after being released from custody; and (b) the prosecutor failed to adequately consider the risk of public harm that could result from failing to bring reasonable criminal charges against the individual.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "violent offense" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 .