A new bill is focused on protecting elected officials and candidates from threats and political violence. HB 2333 is sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry (D–Seattle) and is scheduled for a committee hearing this week.

The bill amends the state harassment statutes to make threats a more serious offense. It elevates harassment of elected officials (including municipal officials) to a higher offense level, adding them to the protected category that includes candidates, state executives, election officials, and certain criminal justice participants.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Strengthening criminal penalties for threats against elected officials;
• Protecting private residential addresses of officials through the state’s Address Confidentiality Program;
• Allowing elected officials to keep their home address out of public reports; and
• Authorizing security assessments and protection for certain individuals.

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Dates to remember

HB 2333 is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, January 14, in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee at 1:30 pm.