Following the 2024 election, and the political changes it brought to all levels of government, many feared that police reform was all but dead. 2025, however, proved our legislative team’s most fruitful yet, with four bills we publicly supported being passed and signed into law.
Just a few weeks ago, we saw perhaps our most significant achievement ever – legislation largely adopting our model statute restricting vehicle pursuits signed into law in Hawai’i. Just last year, we published our Act Restricting Vehicle Pursuits to establish evidence-based standards to rein in dangerous, often deadly police pursuits. Less than a year later, and with our support, our lawmaker partners in the state passed comprehensive pursuit legislation, and Governor Josh Green signed it into law.
Now, Hawai’i state law includes measures to limit vehicle pursuits to certain serious crimes or traffic offenses, prohibits the tactic of shooting at or from a moving vehicle (with exceptions), and requires departments to collect and publish data on pursuits. Hawai’i’s roads, communities, and officers will be safer as a result.
Watch our testimony on HB 2724, a bill to regulate automated license plate readers in Virginia that was signed into law this year.
(Criminal Subcommittee on January 27, beginning at 6:35:10)
Notably, four bills that we supported this legislative session – through public testimony or behind-the-scenes support – are now law. With our support, Hawai’i’s roads are safer, automated license plate readers will be regulated in Virginia, in-vehicle intelligence speed assistance technologies are now authorized as a road safety measure in Washington State, and police officers transferring agencies in Washington State will undergo more rigorous background checks.
But these were far from our only wins this year. This legislative session alone, we partnered with more than 46 lawmakers, advocacy organizations, and coalitions (as always, of all political stripes) across 16 states. That’s more states than we’ve ever appeared in – and we’re looking to expand our reach even further next year.
More specifically, we provided expert assistance – everything from reviewing statutory language to providing research assistance – on 29 bills across 13 states. At the same time, we provided public testimony, often at the request of bill sponsors and committee members, on 20 bills across seven states.
Watch our testimony on SB 5066 in Washington, a bill to authorize the state attorney general to investigate systematic legal violations by law enforcement.
(Beginning at 36:50)
These engagements often relate to our key focus areas, but we’ve increasingly broadened our scope. For example, in addition to our focus on reducing unnecessary traffic stops, we advocated this year for holistic roadway safety through non-policing tools that make drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safer, like the use of intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology. Earlier this month, we submitted expert testimony to the United States House of Representatives on the use of artificial intelligence by law enforcement, calling for regulation both to protect individual rights and provide legal certainty to those in law enforcement.
Outside of the legislature, we’re continuing to engage in public advocacy to build support for smart reform measures. We’ve been publicly quoted and cited in local and national media, including Bloomberg News, New York Focus, the Seattle Times, Louisiana’s The Advocate, the San Francisco Chronicle (twice), among others, while working behind the scenes with journalists to guide and support impactful investigative reporting.
We’re committed to building upon this year’s progress, regardless of possible political headwinds. If you are a lawmaker or advocate, regardless of your political affiliation, and would like to advance legislative efforts that promote democratic policing in your state, please reach out to us at legislation@policingproject.org.