Washington HB 2095: Concerning preliminary work to develop a process for planning for a new Interstate 5 bridge spanning the Columbia river.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to protecting vulnerable users of public ways; 1
amending RCW 46.52.030 and 46.52.070; adding a new section to chapter 2
43.101 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 2.56 RCW; adding a new 3
section to chapter 4.24 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing 4
penalties; and providing an effective date.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to 7
establish educational requirements to provide law enforcement 8
officers, prosecutors, and judges with information regarding state 9
laws protecting vulnerable users of public ways.10
Additionally, it is the intent of the legislature to strengthen 11
options for vulnerable users of public ways to obtain civil remedies 12
against negligent vehicle operators who injure or kill vulnerable 13
road users in protected areas.14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.101 15
RCW to read as follows:16
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 17
specific purpose, the Washington state criminal justice training 18
commission shall, in consultation with the Washington association of 19
prosecuting attorneys, develop and provide educational classes and 20
ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2095
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By House Civil Rights & Judiciary (originally sponsored by
Representatives Reed, Parshley, Ryu, Ramel, Doglio, Berry, Obras,
Santos, Cortes, Street, Scott, Fosse, and Pollet)
READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
p. 1 ESHB 2095

materials regarding negligent driving with a vulnerable user victim 1
in the first and second degree in violation of chapter 46.61 RCW to 2
all law enforcement officers in Washington who enforce traffic laws 3
or respond to traffic injuries or fatalities, and to all prosecutors 4
in Washington who enforce traffic laws or who initiate civil 5
infraction or criminal proceedings in response to traffic injuries or 6
fatalities.7
(a) The educational classes and materials covered by this section 8
shall be provided to all qualifying law enforcement officers and 9
prosecutors within three months of the beginning of their employment 10
and at least once every three years thereafter.11
(b) The educational classes and materials covered by this 12
subsection must include, but are not limited to: (i) For all 13
qualifying law enforcement officers and prosecutors, coverage of fact 14
patterns that illustrate negligent driving with a vulnerable user 15
victim in the first and second degree; and (ii) for qualifying law 16
enforcement officers, best practices for responding to traffic 17
injuries and fatalities involving vulnerable users of public ways.18
(c) To the greatest extent possible, educational classes and 19
materials for law enforcement officers covered by this section must 20
be designed to be delivered during: (i) An officer's basic law 21
enforcement academy training; or (ii) regularly scheduled group 22
settings, such as daily roll call, or other forums or formats that 23
minimize disruption of officer duties.24
(d) To the greatest extent possible, educational classes and 25
materials for prosecutors covered by this section must be designed to 26
qualify for some continuing legal education credits through the 27
Washington state bar association.28
(2) The Washington state criminal justice training commission and 29
the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys shall develop and 30
begin providing the educational classes and materials covered by this 31
section no later than July 1, 2027.32
(3) All qualifying law enforcement officers and prosecutors under 33
subsection (1) of this section must complete the educational classes 34
and materials required by this section within six months of the 35
beginning of their employment and every three years thereafter, but 36
only if the Washington state criminal justice training commission 37
makes such educational classes and materials available to qualifying 38
law enforcement officers and prosecutors.39
p. 2 ESHB 2095

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 2.56 RCW 1
to read as follows:2
(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 3
specific purpose, the Washington state administrative office of the 4
courts shall develop and provide educational classes and materials 5
regarding negligent driving with a vulnerable user victim in the 6
first and second degree in violation of chapter 46.61 RCW to all 7
judicial officers and judges pro tempore in Washington who hear cases 8
involving violations of traffic laws or which involve traffic 9
injuries or fatalities.10
(a) The educational classes and materials covered by this section 11
must include, but are not limited to, coverage of fact patterns that 12
illustrate negligent driving with a vulnerable user victim in the 13
first and second degree and all statutory penalties.14
(b) The educational classes covered by this section must be 15
designed to qualify for s