OLYMPIA – In a daylong session on the House floor, Rep. Mike Pellicciotti (D—Federal Way)’s legislation to increase fines against corporations who commit crimes passed in a vote of 67-31. His legislation (HB 1806), if now passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, would change the current cap from $10,000 to up to $1,000,000 for corporate entities found guilty of certain crimes. The legislature has not increased these penalties since 1924.
“There are corporations out there who commit fraud and other serious crimes and know that the worst penalty they’ll receive is $10,000,” said Pellicciotti after final passage of the bill. “It’s past time for the legislature to hold accountable corporate bad actors who harm the public.”
HB 1806 would increase fines for corporations convicted of lower level crimes as well, including:
- Up to $750,000 for a Class C felony;
- Up to $250,000 for a gross misdemeanor; and
- Up to $50,000 for a misdemeanor.
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