King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion has announced her administration's legislative priorities for the 2026 session, focusing on a multi-faceted approach to improve the safety and well-being of the community. The 2026 agenda emphasizes reducing human trafficking, saving lives on roadways, investing in the healing of crime survivors, and strengthening accountability for those who exploit children.

Strengthening Protections and Funding for Crime Survivors

A cornerstone of Manion's priorities is stabilizing resources for victims. SB 5362 and HB 1487 aim to secure statewide funds for survivors, addressing a 90% decrease in federal funding since FY 2017. These resources are vital for community-based housing, crisis lines, and civil legal aid.

Additionally, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) is advocating for SB 6017 and HB 2493, which would grant courts the discretion to appoint representatives for defendants who represent themselves ("pro se"). This measure is designed to prevent victims of sexual assault or domestic violence from being directly questioned by their abusers in court, a practice that can cause significant trauma.

Combatting Violence and Exploitation

The 2026 priorities include several measures to address gender-based and commercial violence:

• Trauma-Informed Sentencing: HB 1591 proposes sentencing relief for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking whose criminal conduct was a "primary and proximate cause" of their own abuse.

• Sex Trafficking: HB 2526 seeks to reclassify "patronizing a prostitute" as a class C felony named "commercial sexual exploitation" to decrease demand and increase resources for survivors.

• Juvenile Firearm Possession: HB 1536 would change statutes to allow for earlier intervention when juveniles are caught with firearms, aiming to provide meaningful programming before they face more serious charges.

Enhancing Roadway Safety and Drug Policy

To address a massive surge in traffic-related fatalities—which saw a 94% increase in King County between 2013 and 2022—Manion supports SB 5067 and HB 2362. This legislation would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from .08% to .05%, a move estimated to save hundreds of lives and billions of dollars.

In response to the fentanyl epidemic, the KCPAO is also pushing to update child endangerment laws. Current laws do not allow for felony charges against adults whose children accidentally overdose on fentanyl unless the child dies; the proposed update would close this loophole.

Operational and Infrastructure Reforms

Manion's office is also targeting white-collar and infrastructure crimes, as well as administrative hurdles:

• Prosecutorial Hiring: SB 5068 would allow the hiring of Bar-qualified attorneys legally authorized to work in the U.S., expanding the pool of applicants during a talent shortage.

• Mortgage Fraud: SB 5109 and HB 2193 would increase the surcharge for recording deeds of trust from $1 to $5 to fund fraud prosecutions.

• Copper Theft: HB 2213 targets the spike in critical infrastructure theft by requiring recyclers to upload photos of purchased copper to a searchable database.

• Law Enforcement Transparency: SB 5855 and HB 2173 would prohibit law enforcement from wearing face coverings, such as masks, while interacting with the public.

Additional Priorities

The legislative package also includes SB 5105, which targets AI-fabricated depictions of minors and increases the statute of limitations for child sex abuse material to ten years. Furthermore, Manion expressed support for establishing a centralized, state-led "second look" parole system to replace the current "patchwork" of resentencing bills in Washington.