Washington Bill Allows State to Remove Elected Sheriffs

House Democrats pass legislation shifting power from voters to an appointed commission

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Washington state House has passed a bill that would allow a state agency, the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC), to remove an elected sheriff or determine a candidate's eligibility to seek the office. The bill has sparked debate over voter authority and law enforcement accountability.

Why it matters

Opponents argue the bill takes authority away from voters and gives it to an unelected state commission, while supporters say it aims to improve public trust and modernize certification standards for sheriffs and other law enforcement leaders.

The details

Senate Bill 5974 passed the state House on a party-line vote after approximately eight hours of debate. The legislation would allow the CJTC to decertify an elected sheriff and strip them of their office. Currently, 38 of the 39 sheriffs in Washington are elected locally, with the King County Sheriff being an appointee. An amendment to the bill grandfathers in current sitting sheriffs, but future sheriffs would be subject to new eligibility requirements.

  • The bill passed the Washington state House on March 9, 2026.

The players

Mike Morrison

The current Chelan County sheriff who fears the bill could set a precedent for oversight of other locally elected officials.

Brian Burnett

The former Chelan County sheriff and current 12th District Republican representative who argues the bill disregards the constitutional role of elected sheriffs.

Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC)

The state agency that would be granted the power to remove elected sheriffs under the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“Sheriffs answer directly to the people who elected them. If a sheriff violates the public trust, the voters already have a remedy through the recall process. When an unelected state commission can effectively remove that sheriff from office, we are shifting authority away from voters and toward bureaucracy.”

— Brian Burnett, State Representative, 12th District (thequake1021.com)

What’s next

The bill now heads to the governor for signature or veto.

The takeaway

This legislation highlights the ongoing debate over the balance of power between elected officials and appointed oversight bodies, as well as concerns about preserving voter authority in the selection of local law enforcement leaders.