The Senate has not yet voted on SHB 1901, the bill that would drastically expand the legal definition of domestic violence in Washington state. However, it is likely the bill will be brought forward for a vote very soon, and it will have enough votes to pass.
The 1-minute video below demonstrates how even the prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Roger Goodman, does not have his language straight on these issues. Isn’t this alone enough evidence that this proposal deserves a lot more consideration before becoming law?
For additional information on why it will do more harm than good to expand the legal definition of domestic violence in the way SHB 1901 proposes, see our previous posts:
- Eleven 1-Minute Speeches on Why Coercive Control Should Not Be Legally Equated to Domestic
- House Bill 1901 Bill Would Radically Alter Legal Definition of Domestic Violence
Video Transcript
Rep. Goodman: Good morning members of the committee. Roger Goodman from the 45th legislative district.
Narrator (text overlay): Should the legal definition of domestic violence include every kind of abusive and controlling behavior?
Rep. Goodman: Domestic abuse is often not necessarily physical abuse but emotional or psychological abuse.
Narrator (text overlay): True. Many types of domestic abuse aren’t physical.
Rep. Goodman: There are many different examples of coercive control.
Narrator (text overlay): Indeed. The list of controlling and abusive behaviors is virtually endless.
Rep. Goodman: The one major policy change [in this bill] is this inclusion in the definition of domestic violence of what has been called coercive control.
Narrator (text overlay): In other words, the bill will make coercive control the same as domestic violence when it comes to civil protection orders and parenting plans.
Rep. Goodman: There are all sorts of terrorizing examples of abusers using coercive control without necessarily laying hands on the victim. [Coercive control] also is a prelude to violence, where if the victim does not comply it erupts into literally domestic violence.
Narrator (text overlay): So…Rep. Goodman himself distinguishes ‘coercive control’ from ‘literally domestic violence’ as he’s pitching a bill to define coercive control as literally domestic violence. Clearly there remains confusion on these issues.
Rep. Goodman: This coercive control element is really the most important part of this bill, and I do hope that you could enact it into law.
Narrator (text overlay): Before we enact it into law, we should thoroughly consider the consequences of making a long list of abusive behaviors literally domestic violence in Washington.
See also: Vancouver policeman speaks out against gender bias in domestic violence cases
