Washington Proposal to Allow Foreign Nationals in Public Roles Advances

Bill would let work-authorized immigrants become law enforcement, firefighters, and prosecutors

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Washington state House Committee on Community Safety voted to advance a bill that would allow foreign nationals authorized to work in the U.S. to become law enforcement officers, firefighters, and county prosecutors. While supporters say the bill is a recruitment tool to address worker shortages, critics warn it could put public agencies at risk of hiring people with "extremist connections" and allow the hiring of foreign workers at lower wages than U.S. citizens.

Why it matters

The proposal is part of a broader debate over immigration and the role of foreign workers in public sector jobs. Proponents argue it is necessary to address staffing shortages, while opponents are concerned about national security risks and the potential for wage suppression.

The details

Senate Bill 5068 unanimously passed the state Senate before stalling in the House last session. This session, it was revived and again cleared the Senate, though with a divided 30-19 vote. The bill was amended to include provisions that protect public agencies from state discrimination laws for rejecting applicants due to work eligibility limitations, and to require agencies to develop policies on firearm authorization for foreign national employees.

  • The House Committee on Community Safety voted to advance the bill on February 23, 2026.
  • The bill was first introduced last legislative session and has now been revived this session.

The players

Senate Bill 5068

The proposed legislation that would allow foreign nationals authorized to work in the U.S. to become law enforcement officers, firefighters, and county prosecutors.

Rep. Brian Burnett

A Republican state representative from Wenatchee who expressed serious concerns about the bill, warning it could lead to public agencies unknowingly hiring people with "extremist connections".

Rep. Roger Goodman

The Democratic chair of the House Committee on Community Safety, who said the bill is "an important recruitment tool" to help public agencies hire qualified workers who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Stephen Schutt

A software developer who testified that the bill is an "anti-worker provision" that would allow public agencies to hire foreign nationals at lower wages than U.S. citizens, a practice he argued has been common in the tech industry.

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What they’re saying

“I think for non-citizenship – I just can't go there. I have serious concerns on what that does.”

— Rep. Brian Burnett, Republican state representative (dailyfly.com)

“This bill is actually a very important recruitment tool…to be able to hire those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. Our police agencies and other first responders really are looking for qualified folks, and that could include others who are legally authorized to work in the United States.”

— Rep. Roger Goodman, Democratic chair of the House Committee on Community Safety (dailyfly.com)

“It's a way for them to, like you say, there's the shortage of workers, the sources of law enforcement, police officers. It's actually not true. You need to raise wages. We have constant complaints about affordability in this state, and it is because we're suppressing wages in the tech industry. The idea that this is not going to have an effect on the workers that are here is completely false.”

— Stephen Schutt, Software developer (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

The bill will now move to the full state House for further consideration and a potential vote.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the ongoing debate over the role of foreign workers in public sector jobs, with proponents arguing it is necessary to address staffing shortages and critics concerned about national security risks and the potential for wage suppression.