This bill reenacts and amends RCW 9.94A.885 to set out how the state clemency and pardons board receives and processes petitions for commutation of sentences, pardons in extraordinary cases, and restoration of civil rights lost under state law as a result of federal convictions or out‑of‑state felonies. The board may accept petitions from individuals, organizations, and an unspecified “department,” may issue certificates of restoration limited to engaging in political office (which must be filed with the Secretary of State to be effective), and in cases other than such limited certificates shall make recommendations to the governor. The bill makes procedural changes to the clemency process: the board must hold a public hearing before recommending clemency to the governor; the prosecuting attorney where the conviction occurred must be notified at least 30 days before the hearing (this notice period may be waived when necessary), and a copy of the petition must be sent to that prosecuting attorney. The prosecuting attorney must make reasonable efforts to notify victims, survivors, witnesses, and the investigating law enforcement agencies of the hearing; information about who received notice is confidential and not available to the offender. The board must consider statements as provided in RCW 7.69.032, must consider expedited review when a petitioner indicates an urgent need (for example, pending deportation proceedings), and an applicant’s immigration status does not affect eligibility for pardon, commutation, or restoration of civil rights. The hearing subsection is described as guidance for the board and not intended to create an enforceable right. Affected entities include the clemency and pardons board, the governor, the Secretary of State, county prosecuting attorneys, victims and witnesses, and law enforcement agencies. The bill was prefiled 12/23/24 and read for the first time 01/13/25. The text does not identify which department may file petitions, does not define “extraordinary cases,” and provides limited detail about the criteria or procedures for certificates of restoration limited to political office; other related sections of the law may be missing from the extracted text.

If passed, the bill makes it easier and faster for people to seek pardons, commutations, and restoration of rights by requiring the clemency and pardons board to accept petitions from individuals, organizations, and a state department, to consider expedited reviews when there is an urgent need such as pending deportation, and to issue limited certificates that restore the right to hold political office (those certificates must be filed with the secretary of state). That means people facing deportation or noncitizens can more quickly have their cases reviewed, and some applicants can regain political-office eligibility through the board without waiting for a governor’s decision; applicants’ immigration status cannot be used to bar them from seeking relief. The change shifts more workload and timing pressure onto the clemency board, county prosecutors, victim-notification systems, and the secretary of state: prosecutors must get petitions and generally be given 30 days’ notice of public hearings (unless waived), and must try to notify victims, witnesses, and investigating agencies, with those notification records kept confidential from offenders. The bill does not spell out which state department may file petitions, what counts as an “extraordinary” case, or the detailed process for political-office certificates, so the exact operational costs and how quickly agencies must act remain unclear.