Home | About Brian | News & Media | Email Updates | The Ledger | Contact
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Senate Bill 5974 is one of the worst bills of the 2026 legislative sessions. It would allow unelected bureaucrats to potentially remove a duly elected county sheriff without further voter input. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 23, at 1:30 p.m. in the House Community Safety Committee. I urge you to submit written testimony or sign in as “opposed” to this unconstitutional law by going here.
For more information on this bad bill, you can watch my video here where I talk about my legislation that is a direct counter to the Democrat attack on our local sheriffs. Or, listen to my interview with Lars Larson on this issue here.
In a nutshell, this bill:
- Disqualifies sheriff candidates from appearing on the ballot unless they are deemed “suitable for employment” by the Governor-appointed Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and by meeting statutory requirements.
- Is undemocratic and unconstitutional under Article 1, Section 19 of the Washington State Constitution which guarantees the right to free and equal elections.
- Gives power to the unelected Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify and remove an elected sheriff from office for many reasons, notably speech.
- Is undemocratic and unconstitutional under Article 1, Section 33 of the Washington State Constitution which guarantees that only citizens may remove a person from office through the official recall process.
- Compromises law enforcement capabilities and public safety by restricting the roles of volunteers, youth cadets, and specially commissioned peace officers.
- Allows housing male and female inmates in the same jail cell.
Again, please register your opinion on this bill here. We need as much community support as possible. Don’t let them steal your county sheriff. As a former county sheriff, I know that they are the ones who care most about the safety of their local communities.
Thank you for your continued involvement and support.
Sincerely,
Brian Burnett
