Vacating convictions involving the exercise of treaty rights by Indian tribal members.

 H-3068.1

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1982

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2026 Regular Session

By House Community Safety (originally sponsored by Representatives Lekanoff, Parshley, and Pollet)

READ FIRST TIME 01/27/26.

AN ACT Relating to vacating convictions involving the exercise of treaty rights by Indian tribal members; amending RCW 9.96.060 , 2.70.020 , and 2.70.023 ; adding a new section to chapter 2.70 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that during the period of North America settlement in the 18th and 19th centuries, the United States federal government signed treaties with many of the Indian tribal nations living on the lands that would eventually become the state of Washington.

The legislature further finds that although such treaties often included promises to the Indian tribal nations to reserve a portion of ceded land for the exclusive use and benefit of the tribes, these promises have not always been kept.