Committee lays over bill requiring law enforcement to disclose types and amounts of chemical irritants used inside buildings

Senate File 41-44 would require a peace officer or the employing law-enforcement agency to provide notice when chemical irritants, smoke screens or distraction devices are deployed inside a building and to disclose the type and quantity of agents to building owners, occupants, insurers and any retained remediation contractor.

Sponsor Senator Westlund said the measure responds to cases where families had difficulty obtaining information about what agents were used and what remediation was needed. Witnesses and senators described the residue from chemical irritants lingering in homes and materials and the challenge of knowing how to clean and who pays for it.

Committee members raised drafting concerns: Senator Holmstrom asked whether the individual officer should carry the burden of providing notice while in a dangerous situation; others suggested the employing agency should be responsible for follow-up. Counsel and the chair said the language needs editing to avoid impractical obligations and to clarify exigent- and custodial‑exceptions; members suggested consulting with police chiefs and sheriffs about operational feasibility.

The committee laid the amended bill over for redrafting and directed counsel to confer with stakeholders about notification procedures.