OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation Tuesday to expand the Clemency and Pardons Board and update some procedures statewide.
House Bill 1131, sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), updates the membership, compensation, and considerations for review from the Clemency and Pardons Board and requires the Department of Corrections to supervise certain individuals granted commutation.
This bill was amended by the Senate to include language from Sen. Bob Hasegawa’s (D-Tukwila) Senate Bill 5103 allowing expedited review of applications from petitioners with urgent needs. These extenuating factors can include, but are not limited to, a pending deportation order or proceeding.
“Given the political currents right now and what our immigrant neighbors are facing, we need to be prepared,” Hasegawa said. “This has the potential to save a lot of families and lives, especially as due process is being stripped from immigration proceedings.”
“Right now, anyone convicted of a crime at any age, even possession of now-legal marijuana, can be deported based on that conviction,” Hasegawa said. “One bad decision as a youth 30 years ago opens the door to deportation of otherwise fine upstanding members of our community. This bill creates a path for immigrants to stay in their homes and with their families. Rep. Goodman is a champion for immigration justice, and I thank him for his effort on this matter.”
The legislation goes into effect January 1, 2026.
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