WashingtonAttorney general investigators may investigate financial crimes under limited authority
Starting June 11, 2026, the attorney general must designate certain investigators to investigate economic and financial crimes under strict limits on police powers.
What it does
The attorney general must designate certain investigators as limited-authority peace officers for economic and financial crimes, but they cannot arrest, detain, carry weapons, or physically serve business-record warrants.
Designated investigators must meet applicable peace officer training and background-check rules, and people who fail certification standards cannot be employed in these roles.
Argument forClear limits could let investigators handle financial-crime investigations while reserving arrests, detentions, and physical warrant service for other officers.
Argument againstBecause these investigators cannot arrest or detain people or physically serve business-record warrants, cases may require help from another law enforcement agency.
More detail
The attorney general must designate certain investigator positions as limited-authority Washington peace officer positions. This applies to attorney general employees whose job duties include investigating suspected economic or financial crimes. It excludes personnel identified in RCW 74.67.010. Designated investigators may investigate economic and financial crimes. They may not detain or arrest anyone, and they may not carry weapons. They may serve search warrants electronically on a business only after a judicial officer approves the warrant. They may not physically serve a search warrant for business records. The bill status lists June 11, 2026, as the effective date, but the supplied statutory text does not state a start date.
The attorney general must apply peace officer training, background-check, and certification standards to these investigators. The rules cover investigators designated as limited-authority Washington peace officers under this section. The attorney general may not employ a person whose history or conduct would require denial, suspension, or revocation of officer certification. Other law enforcement agencies' investigative authority and criminal jurisdiction remain unchanged. The supplied text does not state a separate timing rule.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 30Chapter 242, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 30Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Major
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate on Reconsideration (#9). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#8). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 54; nays, 41; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Vote on final passage will be reconsidered.
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 54; nays, 33; absent, 8; excused, 3.Passed House
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#30). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 2:00 PM.
- Feb 18First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 54; nays, 43; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#20). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 16Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 10Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 23Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 22Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Jan 22CS - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Community Safety.Minor
- Jan 12Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Community Safety (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).Minor
- 2025
- Dec 16Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Government & EthicsPublic SafetyCriminal Justice