The Washington State Senate on February 12, 2026, approved Senate Bill 5974 (SB 5974), a contentious measure that would impose stricter eligibility criteria on sheriffs, marshals, and police chiefs and grant a state oversight body the authority to force elected sheriffs from office if they lose peace officer certification. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.

Under the bill, candidates for leadership roles in law enforcement must meet heightened standards—such as being at least 25 years old, having five years of law enforcement experience (up from two), passing comprehensive background investigations, and maintaining certification through the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). If a sheriff fails to maintain certification or other eligibility, their office would be declared vacant, triggering a local appointment rather than a recall or election process. Supporters say these reforms enhance professional standards and public trust, while opponents argue they erode local control and voter authority. The bill passed the Senate along party lines, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.

Advocates of SB 5974, including sponsor Sen. John Lovick, a former Snohomish County sheriff, frame the legislation as modernization of outdated laws and parallel to standards in other states like Texas and Georgia. They argue that no one who fails to uphold professional and ethical standards should remain in law enforcement leadership.

However, critics—including sheriffs and organizations like the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and the Washington State Sheriff’s Association (WSSA)—have strongly objected. They view the bill as undermining the principle that sheriffs are accountable only to voters, not unelected bodies. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison described it as shifting power away from voters toward centralized authority, while Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank warned that, if the law were applied against him, supporters might protest at the county office.

Why this matters to Cowlitz County
Kelso and Longview residents should be aware that if passed, SB 5974 could change how local sheriffs are held accountable. In Cowlitz County—like most of Washington—sheriffs are elected directly by voters. Under the proposed law, if a local sheriff were decertified or failed to meet new eligibility standards, their removal would not go through voters but be handled by state-appointed authorities. That shifts significant democratic control away from local communities.

Looking ahead
SB 5974’s next stop is the Washington State House, specifically the Ways & Means Committee. It has already drawn sharp partisan division and promises continued debate over accountability, professional standards, and the balance between statewide oversight and local authority.