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SB 5743

Regarding names to be included on the Washington state law enforcement memorial.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Deb Krishnadasan and 2 co-sponsors

SB 5743 adds Washington law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty per DOJ-determined Hometown Heroes criteria to the state memorial, with a five-year retroactive window.

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
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Bill Summary · SB 5743

Summary: Senate Bill 5743 (SB 5743) – Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Names

Overview

SB 5743 would add a new provision to RCW 79.24 to ensure that Washington state law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty, as determined by the federal Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 (as interpreted by the U.S. Department of Justice), are included on the Washington state law enforcement memorial. The bill was introduced on February 13, 2025, and is currently at first reading and referred to the State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections committee.

Purpose and intent

  • To formally include law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty, as determined under the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003, on the Washington state law enforcement memorial.
  • To align memorial honors with a federal determination framework and recognize officers who meet those criteria.

Key provisions

  • New section added to RCW chapter 79.24 establishing eligibility for memorial inclusion.
  • Eligibility standard: Officers who are ruled to have died in the line of duty under the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003, based on a determination by the United States Department of Justice, shall be included on the memorial.
  • Memorial update timing: Once a determination is made, the officer’s name shall be added to the memorial at the first wall update following that determination.

Retroactivity and eligibility window

  • The bill provides retroactive coverage for a five-year period.
  • It would include Washington state law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2020, expanding recognition to those deaths within that five-year window prior to a memorial update.

Memorial inclusion process

  • Determination source: The inclusion relies on a determination under the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 as made by the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • Addition timing: Names are added during the first wall update after the relevant determination is made.

Affected parties and scope

  • Primary: Washington state law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty and whose deaths meet the federal determination criteria.
  • Memorial management: Washington state law enforcement memorial (RCW 79.24), including future wall updates.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: First reading; referred to Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
  • Introduced: February 13, 2025.
  • Next steps: Committee consideration, potential amendments, and passage through the Senate and House (if advanced) before potential enactment and signing into law.

Impact snapshot

  • Expands memorial recognition to a defined set of officers based on federal determinations.
  • Establishes a clear, post-determination update process for adding names to the memorial.
  • Creates a five-year retroactive window for eligibility, subject to the DOJ determination.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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