House Bill 2015 is a statewide public safety funding law that allows qualifying cities and counties to impose a new 0.1% sales and use tax option to fund certain public safety efforts. The legislation also creates a $100 million grant program that is available only to local and tribal law enforcement agencies that can demonstrate compliance with state law.
Sales tax must be used for criminal justice purposes, while the grant can be used for supporting hiring, training, and retaining officers, as well as community-based criminal justice programs in partnership with law enforcement agencies. Jurisdictions that want to impose the 0.1% sales and use tax must meet the grant criteria.
Whether a jurisdiction adopts the sales tax, applies for the grant, or does both, the eligibility criteria are the same. Law enforcement agencies must meet specific policy, training, and data reporting standards outlined in HB 2015 before funding is approved.
Sales & Use Tax Authorizations
Verification of HB 2015 sales and use tax authorization: For cities and counties enacting the HB 2015 .1% sales and use tax, WSCJTC is now accepting your documentation demonstrating that your law enforcement agency meets the grant requirements found in RCW 43.101.540.
- 🔹What is the HB 2015 local sales & use tax option?
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- WSCJTC is currently reviewing sales & use tax verification authorizations from cities and counties enacting the sales & use tax. Grant applications will be accepted later in the year.
- Qualifying cities and counties may enact a .1 % councilmanic sales & use tax.
- To qualify to collect the tax, cities and counties must meet the criteria for the law enforcement grant.
- The sales & use tax revenue must be used for criminal justice purposes such as domestic violence services, public defenders, diversion and reentry programs, programs to reduce homelessness and improve behavioral health, community outreach and assistance programs, mental health crisis response, alternative response programs, and community placements for juvenile offenders.
- 🔹What are the criteria for both the sales & use tax and for the grant program?
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WSCJTC is currently focusing on the sales & use tax verification authorizations. The HB 2015 grant application is still in development and will be available later this fall.
Both the sales & use tax verification and the grant program require that jurisdictions meet the same set of criteria, as provided in RCW 43.101.540. Please refer to the Additional Resources section below for more information and helpful links.
- 🔹Which jurisdictions have requested verification of their sales & use tax authorization?
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- City of Bellingham
- City of Black Diamond
- City of Des Moines
- City of Edmonds
- City of Elma
- City of Kalama
- City of Kent
- City of Lynden
- City of Renton
- City of SeaTac
- City of Mount Vernon
- King County
- Skagit County
- 🔹What is the HB 2015 grant program?
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Eligible local and tribal law enforcement agencies may apply for funding to:
- Recruit, hire, and retain new entry-level officers (not lateral hires)
- Cover salaries and benefits (up to 75% of entry-level costs for 36 months) with a maximum state share of $125,000 per position.
- Support trauma-informed, crisis intervention, and de-escalation training.
- Expand co-response programs and other public safety services, including but not limited to emergency management planning, environmental hazard mitigation, security personnel, community outreach and assistance programs, alternative response programs, and mental health crisis response.
- 🔹Who can apply for the HB 2015 grant?
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The Legislature created this grant program “for the purpose of providing direct support to local and tribal law enforcement agencies.” Accordingly, only local and tribal law enforcement agencies that meet all program requirements are eligible to apply.
Local municipalities that wish to apply for grants will be able to submit joint applications with qualifying law enforcement agencies. More details will be available when CJTC launches the grant program later this year.
- 🔹What if your submittal doesn’t meet the state's sales & use tax requirement?
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As more jurisdictions receive responses to their sales and use tax submittals, some are hearing that they don’t yet meet all statutory requirements for verification. Here’s what that means—and what happens next.
After WSCJTC and the Attorney General’s Office review each submittal, we send a letter confirming compliance or identifying areas that require additional documentation. If you receive a notice that your submittal doesn’t yet meet requirements, it’s not a denial—it’s the start of a collaborative process.
Many jurisdictions submitted early, before the online portal was launched. Those submittals were made in good faith under the original statute. The portal now provides additional detail to help ensure full compliance. We’re working closely with jurisdictions to answer questions and help them meet all requirements.
Under the law, WSCJTC has 45 days to review submissions and provide feedback. Jurisdictions then have 30 days to respond and up to 180 days total to come into compliance before the State Treasurer begins withholding tax revenue. Jurisdictions may still authorize and collect the tax while resolving deficiencies, provided supplemental documentation is submitted within that 180-day window.
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Downloadable Procedures and Requirements
While the requirements for establishing eligibility are listed below, CJTC will publish additional guidance in the coming weeks to help jurisdictions compile the necessary materials. Please contact WSCJTC with any questions or for more information.
HB 2015 Procedures for Local Sales & Use Tax
HB 2015 Criteria and Requirements for Sales & Use Tax
HB 2015 Agency Training Requirements
Pulling ACADIS Training Reports
Additional Resources
Use the following materials to understand requirements and guide you through the sales & use tax verification authorization process.
Submittal Checklists
Your Input Matters — Get Involved
We want to hear from you! You can contact us with questions. We will post additional information on this page to address any questions. If your agency, county, or city would like to provide input, please get in touch with us to take a brief survey. Community members who wish to give feedback on a local law enforcement agency are also welcome to contact us.