Nearly every state introduced legislation impacting some aspect of policing in 2024, with more than 1,600 bills being introduced in legislatures across the country. Just under 400 bills were enacted in 2024, representing changes from hiring and retention of officers to new training and technology.
Officer Recruitment and Retention
Workforce shortages remain a topic of discussion in legislatures. Lawmakers have employed a variety of different strategies to recruit and retain qualified law enforcement officers in 2024.
One common approach that states and departments use is a monetary benefit like a signing bonus or retention bonus. Georgia, for instance, established a “Back the Blue" Fund from which they distribute voluntary contributions made through vehicle registration applications. These contributions provide bonus payments to certified peace officers on an annual basis. Additionally, New Mexico's Law Enforcement Retention Fund provides differential disbursements for full-time certified officers who have met certain levels of tenure within the department.
Other monetary benefits can include overtime or supplementary compensation and tax breaks for police officers. For example, Utah allows municipalities to adopt overtime compensation for officers and other first responders and appropriated funds for overtime for first responders employed by the state. Officers in Maryland can claim an income tax reduction for the first $5,000 of earned income.
Efforts to attract new officers also include changes to the structure of law enforcement employment, with an emphasis on improving work-life balance. Washington, for example, created a flexible work policy, allowing officers to work part time when feasible. As a result, departments can supplement work during peak hours with part-time officers and use alternative shift schedules that fit the needs of the officers and agencies.
Arizona and Virginia have both focused on increasing peace officer mobility by recognizing out-of-state credentials, training, and certification. Arizona implemented cross-certification recognition for adjoining states while Virginia created a universal licensure agreement for law enforcement officers.
Other efforts to promote officer wellbeing have included workers compensation coverage for PTSD, expanded access to mental health resources and support, including proactive resources aimed at general well-being and post-critical incident resources.
Some states have also enacted legislation that would encourage hiring underrepresented groups or create new pathways into a law enforcement career. Hawaii set a goal for increased representation of women and other underrepresented groups. Georgia and New York both created recruitment strategies for college graduates with student loan repayment plans and tuition waivers for peace officers.
Training
Law enforcement training continues to be a hot topic in states, with more than 50 new enactments in 2024.
One area of focus for these training requirements includes ensuring that departments and officers have access to training on investigating sex assault and related sex crimes. Connecticut, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Utah enacted laws concerning how law enforcement agencies investigate these crimes. Connecticut and Oklahoma both established new state-level entities to evaluate procedures and address training for sex crimes investigations.
Louisiana required the state peace officer standards and training board (POST) to develop trauma-informed training materials related to domestic violence, sex assault and sex trafficking to be used for both initial and annual in-service trainings. Utah required the state POST board to develop and regularly update a model sexual assault investigation policy based on best practices. Local agencies were required to publish their adopted policies online.
Another continuing area of interest is training officers to identify and interact with specific populations such as persons with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and autism.
A new California law requires the state training board to consult with various subject matter experts, law enforcement agencies and other organizations to create guidelines on how to respond to wandering associated with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and autism. Florida and Virginia also enacted similar legislation on creating continuing education for first responders who interact with these populations.