H-3127.1
HOUSE BILL 2663
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule and Walen
Read first time 01/26/26. Referred to Committee on Community Safety.
AN ACT Relating to creating a domestic violence offense registry; amending RCW 4.24.130 ; adding new sections to chapter 10.99 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.43 RCW; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that domestic violence is a serious and pervasive issue facing many Washington families and communities, and many of the most severe crimes that occur in this state are those involving intimate partner and family violence. Domestic violence offenses carry wide-ranging effects, including injury to mental and physical health, erosion of economic and housing stability, and vicarious victimization of children, who are often bystander witnesses. Washington state data demonstrates a high rate of reoffense among perpetrators of domestic violence, and there is currently no way of knowing whether any particular person has an offense history in absence of a criminal background check or court records request.
The establishment of a searchable public registry of persons who have been convicted of repeated or felony-level domestic violence offenses is an important step toward preventing future victimization and reducing overall rates of domestic violence. The legislature does not intend for the registry to be punitive or an extension of punishment. Instead, it serves as a reasonable regulatory scheme designed to facilitate public access to identification and relevant criminal history information for a subset of people who have been convicted of repeated or felony-level offenses. Members of the public have a compelling interest in identifying persons convicted of repeated or felony-level domestic violence offenses so that they may make informed decisions in furtherance of personal security.