Rep. Brian Burnett condemns bill weakening penalties for sex offenders who fail to register
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Rep. Brian Burnett condemns bill weakening penalties for sex offenders who fail to register
“Our responsibility is to the safety of kids, families, and neighborhoods. This bill prioritizes offender comfort over community safety, and I cannot support that,” says Burnett
Rep. Brian Burnett, R-Chelan and a former Chelan County Sheriff, expressed deep disappointment after legislation passed out of the House Appropriations Committee that will weaken accountability for sex offenders and put public safety at risk.
“Failure to register as a sex offender is not a paperwork mistake. It is a deliberate choice to avoid supervision and accountability,” said Burnett. “As a sheriff, I dealt with this issue firsthand. Registration is one of the most important tools law enforcement has for protecting communities and monitoring known offenders. Weakening consequences for repeated violations is the wrong direction.”
House Bill 2403 lowers the seriousness level of felony Failure to Register, removes the elevation to a higher felony for repeat violations, and strips repeat Failure to Register offenses of their status as a sex offense under sentencing law. Supporters argue the crime is largely administrative and should be handled through community custody rather than incarceration.
Burnett strongly disagrees.
“When someone repeatedly refuses to comply with registration requirements, that’s not administrative. That’s willful noncompliance, and it raises serious red flags,” Burnett said. “This bill sends a dangerous message that chronic violations will be met with lighter consequences, even after multiple offenses.”
Burnett, who voted against the bill in committee, said the Legislature should be focused on protecting victims and preventing future harm, not reducing accountability for offenders who have already demonstrated they won’t follow the law.
“Our responsibility is to the safety of kids, families, and neighborhoods,” Burnett said. “This bill prioritizes offender comfort over community safety, and I cannot support that.”
House Bill 2403 is now in the House Rules Committee and eligible to be pulled to the House floor for a final vote.
