Washington state lawmakers are taking action to block unauthorized militias from entering the state. House Bill 1321, sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma), aims to require approval from either the Governor or the President before military forces from other states can enter Washington on official duty.
According to the Washington State House Democrats website, Rep. Mena, who chairs the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, said, "the federal government has preemption over states in many respects and will continue to do so. This bill is about preventing other states from sending their own militias into Washington for the purposes of enforcing federal laws or taking matters into their own hands. Without this bill, there is nothing on the books to prevent this."
Washington is not the only state concerned about this issue. States like Texas and South Carolina have similar rules that require federal approval for any military forces crossing their borders.
For more information on the bill and its legislative process, the Washington State House Democrats' page provides a direct link to the consideration of HB 1321.
