PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 18292025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Concerning tribal warrants.

Sponsored By: Debra Lekanoff (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

State perjury law recognizes tribal proceedings

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington’s perjury-law definitions recognize qualifying statements declared true under penalty of perjury under a federally recognized tribe’s code. They also recognize oaths given by people authorized under tribal law. The definitions include tribal courts, tribal official proceedings, tribal jurors, and testimony offered in those proceedings.

Officers and jails gain arrest liability protections

Beginning July 27, 2025, covered peace officers, state or local corrections officers, jails, and their legal advisors receive liability protection. They cannot face civil or criminal liability for making or not making arrests under the 2024 tribal-warrant law. They must act in good faith and without malice. This protection limits legal remedies for people affected by those covered arrest decisions. Existing protections for prosecuting attorneys remain unchanged.

Prior waivers allow direct tribal custody transfers

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington detention facilities must deliver or make available certain people to noncertified tribes without a court surrender order. The person must be accused of breaking the tribe’s probation, parole, bail, or other release terms. The facility must receive a copy of the person’s earlier signed extradition waiver, certified as authentic by an authorized tribal court representative. It must also receive photographs, fingerprints, or other evidence identifying the person as the signer. Noncertified tribes are federally recognized Washington tribes without federal approval for enhanced criminal penalties that agree to return offenders to state authorities.

State warrants enforce tribal criminal charges

Beginning July 27, 2025, tribal courts can file warrants in the Washington county where the tribe is physically located. Filings must include a certified charging document, the tribe’s authority to prosecute, and information identifying the person. The superior court must issue a state arrest warrant after finding probable cause that the tribe charged the person. That state warrant expires after six months unless withdrawn sooner. Related proceedings occur where the person is first detained. The filed tribal warrant must be withdrawn when the person is arrested or submits to tribal jurisdiction. A separate process requires judges to issue warrants based on sworn records of tribal charges and alleged flight, escape, or release violations. It applies to federally recognized tribes with territory in Washington. Tribal complaints require an affidavit stating tribal criminal jurisdiction, the charge, and the person’s believed presence in Washington. These warrants direct arrest anywhere in Washington and appearance before a judge, with certified supporting records attached.

Tribal arrests get hearing and pickup deadlines

Beginning July 27, 2025, officers can arrest people on noncertified-tribe warrants presented by tribal officials or entered in law enforcement databases. Noncertified tribes are federally recognized Washington tribes without federal approval for enhanced criminal penalties that agree to return offenders to state authorities. Arrested people must see the nearest available superior court judge by the next court day. Unless waived, a hearing must occur within 72 hours after that appearance, excluding weekends and holidays. The court must order transfer unless the person proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that the warrant names someone else. If transfer is denied, the person is released, possibly with conditions. After a transfer order, the tribe has three days to take custody, excluding weekends and holidays. If it misses that deadline, the court can set release conditions requiring availability on a date within seven days. Missing that date requires release; another transfer order requires a new arrest warrant. Both certified and noncertified tribes seeking extradition can participate in hearings about whether the transfer is legal. Detainees retain the right to challenge custody through habeas corpus, but review is limited to issues allowed by the referenced state laws. Covered detention facilities also include similar adult facilities contracted by cities or counties.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Debra Lekanoff

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Gerry Pollet

    Democratic • House

  • Roger Goodman

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 203 • No: 38

House vote • 4/18/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 93 • No: 2 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 61 • No: 36 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/13/2025House

  2. Chapter 259, 2025 Laws.

    5/13/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/13/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/24/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/23/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 93; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/18/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/18/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/9/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/9/2025House

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    4/9/2025House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/7/2025House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/28/2025House

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/27/2025House

  15. LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/27/2025House

  16. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

    3/7/2025House

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 61; nays, 36; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    3/5/2025House

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/5/2025House

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/5/2025House

  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/5/2025House

  21. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/4/2025House

  22. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/21/2025House

  23. CS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/20/2025House

  24. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/20/2025House

  25. CS - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/20/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation