Skamania County, WA – As Washington State’s legislative session begins today, the Skamania County Sheriff is publicly raising concerns over a proposed bill she says could shift control of local law enforcement offices to the state level.
According to Skamania County Sheriff Summer N. Scheyer, Senate Bill 5974 — previously introduced as House Bill 1399 during the 2025 session — would impose new state regulations on the Office of Sheriff, including candidate education requirements, changes to jurisdictional authority, and limits on volunteer involvement.
Scheyer said the proposal is framed as a modernization effort but argues it would grant the state increased regulatory power over an elected local office. She expressed concern that the bill could reduce voter authority in sheriff elections by placing qualifications and oversight decisions at the state level rather than with local constituents.
The sheriff also cited potential constitutional issues, pointing to Washington State Constitution Article XI, Section 5, which addresses the powers and structure of county offices. According to Scheyer, the bill could conflict with long-standing principles of local control and voter-driven accountability.
Scheyer emphasized that while she supports accountability for elected officials, she believes that responsibility should remain with voters through elections, recalls, and re-election decisions — not through expanded state oversight.
In her statement, the sheriff encouraged Washington residents to review Senate Bill 5974 closely and consider how it could affect local governance and the authority of county sheriffs statewide. She also urged voters to communicate their views directly with their state representatives and senators as the legislative session moves forward.
No vote has yet been scheduled on the bill, and lawmakers have not publicly responded to Scheyer’s concerns as of today.
Residents with questions about the proposal were encouraged to contact their elected officials or the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office directly.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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