Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen’s bill to hold vehicular homicide offenders accountable passes out of committee; School safety grant program legislation receives a hearing

A bill from Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen that would redesignate vehicular homicide is moving closer to becoming law.

The House Community Safety Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1101 on Thursday. It would ensure that all forms of Vehicular Homicide are included in the definitions of both “violent offense” and “most serious offense,” consistent with their designation as class A felonies.

“Vehicular Homicide with disregard for the safety of others is a conviction that involves gross criminal negligence,” said Jacobsen, R-Puyallup. “We should not grant first-time offender waivers for this fatal crime. We should sanction what we hope to prevent.”

Currently, state law provides that every class A felony is considered both a “violent offense” and a “most serious offense” (i.e., a 3-strike offense). Such crimes are typically ineligible for a first-time offender waiver. However, courts have interpreted the current statutory language to specifically exclude vehicular homicide offenses involving disregard for the safety of others from the definition of “violent offense,” despite all forms of vehicular homicide being class A felonies.

While the legislation would make vehicular homicide a violent offense, due to an amendment from the committee, it would not count as a strike offense.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the House Capital Budget Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1011. It would authorize the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OPSI) to administer a School Safety Capital Grant program.

“If we were to make some small changes in the design and construction of our schools, we could make people feel safer, and possibly prevent bad actors,” said Jacobsen. “There are many factors to consider in making our schools safe, and this is a positive step in the right direction. We should do everything we can to make our school facilities secure so students and staff can thrive.”

Project eligibility would be limited to school safety projects that make physical improvements intended to advance the safety or security of a school facility, including:

  • design and construction of security vestibules.
  • purchase and installation of metal detectors, facility key card access, remote door access, panic buttons, or silent alarms.
  • fencing, lighting, and crime prevention through environmental design projects.

Projects must have a total estimated cost of $1 million or less. Common schools, state-tribal education compact schools, and charter schools can apply for grants through the program. For charter schools, the OSPI may award grants only from funding sources other than the Common School Construction Fund.

The 2025 legislative session began on Jan. 13 and will last 105 days.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov