H-3319.2
HOUSE BILL 2729
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Griffey, Leavitt, Richards, Jacobsen, Ley, Keaton, Stuebe, Nance, and Pollet
Read first time 02/05/26. Referred to Committee on Community Safety.
AN ACT Relating to restoring public order and protecting families and communities by strengthening consequences for repeat theft and related property offenses and allowing limited court-supervised alternatives when they reduce reoffending; adding a new chapter to Title 9A RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT. (1) The legislature finds that repeat theft and related property offenses have imposed significant and growing costs on Washington businesses, working families, and taxpayers. While these crimes are often classified as nonviolent, they are not victimless. Repeat offenders and organized theft rings harm local employers, increase prices for consumers, threaten retail employees, and reduce public confidence that basic standards of conduct will be enforced.
(2) The legislature further finds that widespread theft and repeat offending have contributed to the closure of grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential retail in certain neighborhoods. These closures reduce access to food, medicine, and basic household goods and can create or worsen food deserts, particularly for low-income families, seniors, and residents without reliable transportation. Businesses report that theft occurs daily, losses have become unsustainable, and reporting often results in little or no action, causing many stores to reduce reporting, absorb losses, relocate, or close.