The bill establishes a new law enforcement hiring grant program aimed at supporting local and tribal law enforcement agencies in hiring officers to enhance community policing and public safety. The program will provide grants covering up to 75% of the entry-level salaries and fringe benefits for full-time officers for a maximum of 36 months, with a minimum local cash match of 25% and a maximum state contribution of $125,000 per position. The grants are specifically designated for increasing the number of filled law enforcement positions and cannot be used for any other costs. Additionally, applicants who have been employed by a local or tribal law enforcement agency in Washington within the past 12 months are ineligible for these grants.

The bill also mandates the establishment of application policies, requirements, and evaluation criteria by the commission, which will oversee the grant process. Furthermore, it requires grant recipients to report on the impact of the funding on retention and vacancy rates, as well as the recruitment timeline. To support this initiative, the bill appropriates $100,000,000 from the general fund to the criminal justice training commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The commission is tasked with reporting annually to the legislature on various metrics related to the grant applications and awards.