SB 5375 - Mandatory reporter law catches ire of Department of Justice 

This bill requires members of the clergy to report child abuse or neglect when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered such abuse or neglect, no matter the scenario in which they obtain that information. 

This bill has been controversial since it was first introduced in the Legislature due to clergy-penitent privilege. Similar to attorney-client privilege or spousal privilege, this means a priest or minister cannot be called to testify under oath about what someone told them in confession. The Roman Catholic Church specifies that a priest may not betray a penitent, and if they do so, they will directly violate the seal of confession, which is grounds for excommunication. 

The bill's prime sponsor, state Sen. Noel Frame, said the bill was about not being complicit in institutional cover-ups of physical and sexual abuse of children. Frame cited a years-long cover-up of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witness community in Washington state as the catalyst for this legislation. At a January hearing, Frame said the bill "fell apart" during the 2024 session, but the revelation that three separate archdioceses of the Catholic church were being investigated for covering up abuse allegations prompted her to bring it forward again. 

"Quite frankly, that made it hard for me to stomach any argument about religious freedom being more important than preventing the abuse, including the sexual abuse of children," she said. 

Frame said she herself is a survivor of sexual abuse, which only stopped when she told a mandated reporter, her teacher.

 "I really wonder about all the children who have been abused and neglected and have gone unprotected by the adults in their lives because we didn't have a mandated reporter law and that we continue to try to protect this in the name of religious freedom," Frame said. 

The law is already facing legal challenges from Catholic officials within Washington state, which was joined by the United States Department of Justice. Though it faces challenges in court, a judge has not yet granted an injunction, so as of now the law will take effect as planned. 

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SB 5004 - Mother of school shooting victim's mission to improve school security

This bill mandates updates to school security systems, including adding panic or alert buttons and live feeds accessible by law enforcement. 

The bill is in part due to the efforts of a parent whose daughter was killed in a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. Alyssa Alhadeff was just 14 years old when she died. Now her mother, Lori Alhadeff, is on a mission to improve safety at other schools around the country. 

The bill directs school districts to work with local law enforcement agencies and school security staff to develop an emergency response system, which must include at least one of the following: 

• Panic or alert buttons that are tied to school administration, school district staff, and emergency response providers 
• Live video feed with law enforcement, school district, and school access 
• Live audio feed with law enforcement, school district, and school access 
• Remote control access to doors 
• Live interactive two-way communications; 
• Or a system that complies with applicable state building code requirements for group E

OSPI must report to the legislature by Dec. 1 what types of emergency response systems schools are using. 

The bill will be known as "Alyssa's Law." 

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HB 1046 - Saving dogs, babies from hot cars

This bill provides civil immunity for people who enter other people's cars in order to save a vulnerable person or a domestic animal who has been left inside, subject to certain requirements. 

To qualify for civil immunity, the person must do the following: 

• Determine whether the vehicle is locked or there is no reasonable method for the vulnerable person or pet to exit the car without help
• Have good faith and a reasonable belief that, based on known circumstances, entry into the car is necessary because the vulnerable person or pet is in danger of imminent harm
• Ensure that law enforcement is notified or 911 has been contacted, before entering the vehicle
• Use no more force than necessary to enter the vehicle and remove the person or pet
• Remain with the vulnerable person or pet in a safe location reasonably close to the car until law enforcement, animal control or first responders arrive

For the purposes of this bill, "domestic animal" means a dog, cat or other animal that is domesticated and may be kept as a household pet. It does not apply to livestock or other farm animals. "Vulnerable person" means a person under the age of 18 or a person whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living or to provide for their own care or protection is impaired due to a mental, emotional, sensory, long-term physical, or developmental disability or dysfunction, or brain damage, or the infirmities of aging.

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HB 1052 - Expanding the definition of a hate crime

This bill modifies the conduct that constitutes a hate crime offense to include when a person commits a specified act in whole or in part because of the person's perception of another person's characteristics. 

Previous state law said a defendant's motive had to be entirely based on prejudice for a crime to qualify as a hate crime. This bill means even crimes that are motivated in part by prejudice will be considered hate crimes. 

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SB 5142 - Schools and eminent domain

This bill makes changes to how school districts may sell property that was seized through eminent domain. 

The bill requires school districts to offer the previous owner the opportunity to purchase the land back before selling, transferring, or putting it to any other use. And would allow the original owners to buy back the land at the price they originally sold it for.

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SB 5041 - Granting unemployment benefits to workers on strike

Senate Bill 5041 will make Washington the third state in the nation to offer benefits to workers on strike, following New York and New Jersey. 

Here are the details: 

• Workers will become eligible for unemployment benefits on the second Sunday following the first date of the strike
• If the judge rules that the strike was prohibited, workers who received benefits must repay the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) any unemployment funds that they received 
• If retroactive wages are paid for any weeks the individual received benefits, ESD must issue an overpayment assessment to recover the benefits
• The regular one-week waiting period applies after the disqualification ends 
• The striking individual may receive benefits for no more than six calendar weeks

ESD will present an annual study to the Legislature to report on the prevalence of strikes occurring within Washington and the impact of strikes on the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The law currently has a sunset date in 2035.

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SB 5785 - Reductions in financial aid to WA college students

This bill makes multiple modifications to the Washington College Grant (WCG) and the College Bound Scholarship (CBS). 

• For the 2025-2026 school year, students whose families make up to 60% of the Median Family Income will receive the maximum (Washington College Grant award). 
• For students attending private four-year not-for-profit higher education institutions, the maximum WCG award is 50% of the average of awards for the same academic year granted to students at the public research institutions beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. 
• Awards for students attending two-year and four-year private, for-profit institutions will be eliminated beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. 
• Beginning 2026-2027, the maximum award for students attending apprenticeship programs is 50% of the maximum award for students attending public, two-year institutions.
• The maximum WCG award for students attending the Washington Governor's University is reduced to $4150 beginning in 2026-2027

The following changes will be made to the CBS beginning the 2027-2028 school year: 

• For students attending private four-year not-for-profit higher education institutions, the maximum award is 50 percent of the average of awards for the same academic year granted to students at the public research institutions 
• For students attending two-year and four-year private for-profit institutions of higher education, awards are eliminated
• For students attending WGU, the maximum award is reduced to $4,650.

This bill goes into effect July 1.

"Our state's budget crisis this year has forced us to make some difficult decisions and this was certainly one of them," Gov. Ferguson said Tuesday at the bill signing. "Even with these changes, however, Washington state will continue to offer the most generous college financial aid programs in our country."

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ESHB 1875

This bill allows individuals to use their paid sick leave for judicial or administrative immigration proceedings in certain situations. Employers and transportation network companies must accept documents or written statements for verification that an individual is using paid sick time for an immigration proceeding. 

SB 5104

This bill aims to protect immigrants from coercion in the workplace based on immigration status. 

Employers are prohibited from making threats in regards to an employee's immigration status or that of a family member to deter them from engaging in protected activities or exercising his or her rights under certain labor and employment laws. 

SSB 5714

This bill institutes consequences for bail bond recovery agents who use their positions to aid immigration enforcement. 

A bail bond recovery agent who enforces a civil immigration warrant will be considered to have committed unprofessional conduct, which is subject to discipline by the Department of Licensing, up to and including revocation or suspension of their license for some time, or up to a $5,000 fine. 

Sharing a defendant's immigration status with anyone outside the bail bond agency's business will also be considered unprofessional conduct. 

HB 1028

House Bill 1028 amends existing state law to clarify that Child Advocacy Centers, which provide safe, child-friendly environments to children who are victims of crimes, also support children who have been exposed to violence.

The law allows for recordings of child forensic interviews in closed cases to be used for peer reviews. This will allow interviewers to receive supervision and feedback. According to the bill text, research showed "consistent review of protocol procedures and intensive group peer review improves interviewers' ability to adhere to best practices," and receive "much-needed emotional and professional support." This will ultimately result in better care for children in Washington state.

SSB 5149

This bill expands Early Childhood Court Services to families with children under the age of 6, instead of families with children under age 3.

Early Childhood Courts serve the needs of children under the age of 3 who are subject to child welfare (dependency) cases, provide certain services and avenues of communication between families, child welfare workers and the court.

HB 1509

This bill requires that the Department of Children, Youth and Families offer a contract, or multiple contracts, to community-based family reconciliation services in at least one location. The list of circumstances in which DCYF must provide these services is expanded to include situations where a youth is in a county juvenile detention center and family conflict exists, and where youth have been referred through the Housing Stability for Youth in Crisis program.

DCYF currently offers these services, however, families seeking help with reconciliation may be hesitant to reach out. If these services are instead based in the community, they may be more accessible to those in need, lawmakers said.

ESHB 1620 

This bill revises and sets new limitations, requirements and guidelines for courts that order parenting plans in a dissolution of a marriage or domestic partnership and legal separations.

Parenting plans provide for the care of any minor children. During the drafting of a plan, the court is either required or allowed to place certain limitations based on the conduct of the parent, or with the parent with whom the child resides. There are presumptions against ordering that a child live with a parent who has committed certain acts, or lives with someone who has committed certain acts.

This bill reorganizes and revises the provisions determining when courts must or may place limitations on a parenting plan and adds new definitions. Specific provisions are added to address situations with allegations of child abuse or domestic violence. In cases with allegations of domestic abuse by both parents, courts must endeavor to determine which parent poses less risk to the child. Where a parent has engaged in certain conduct, parenting plans cannot require dispute resolution processes, mutual decision making or that parties share the same space for alternative dispute resolution, among other changes to current state law. All modifications can be viewed here.

SHB 1272

This bill extends and modifies a position with the governor's office, now called the Children and Youth Multisystem Care Project Director.

The project director intervenes and works as a state lead on addressing complex cases of children in crisis. A "child in crisis" is defined as a child who is at risk of or is staying in a hospital without medical necessity due to a lack of discharge options, or a child with an active child welfare case that is experiencing placement instability and is referred to the program by the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

In these situations, the project director is in charge of coordinating all available resources to support the child and coordinating a rapid response team to ensure they are effectively mobilized.

This position was set to expire this June, but it has been extended for two more years.

HB 1177

This bill requires the Department of Children, Youth and Families to serve every eligible family on its Child Welfare Housing Assistance waitlist, and to serve 200 more families over the next biennium than it served last year.

The Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program provides housing vouchers, rental assistance, navigation and other support services to eligible families, with the intent to keep children out of foster care or shorten their time in outside placement.

Eligible families include those for whom a lack of appropriate housing remains a barrier to reunification, and those whose children are candidates for foster care due to housing instability. This bill now allows the housing assistance program to continue helping families even after their DCYF has closed their child welfare case.

The bill also adds information that the program will be required to report to the legislature annually.

HB 1460

This bill makes updates to Hope Cards, which are scannable cards given to victims that provide information about protection orders.

This bill specifies that Hope Cards must be issued by court clerks upon request and changes the information that is required. The bill changes some procedures surrounding the issuance of Hope Cards and requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to ensure that information required to be included in a Hope Card is provided by each court.

A legislative summary describes the bill as offering "tune-ups" to the existing program that will help accomplish certain goals.

HB 1648

This bill extends the timeline and expands the qualifying experience for child care providers.

The timeline for childcare providers to complete staff qualification requirements is extended to at least Aug. 1, 2030. For employees hired after that date, the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) will specify a timeline based on their date of licensure, hire, or promotion, which can be for no longer than five years.

Five years of cumulative work experience in a licensed child care facility qualifies as demonstration of experience-based competency in fulfillment of staff qualification requirements.

DCYF will convene a stakeholder group to assist in identifying strategies to improve staff qualification requirements and verification processes and report by Dec. 1, 2026, to the legislature.

SB 5032

This bill expands the statutory authority of the Office of the Family and Children's Ombuds to include youth and individuals in the state's care or custody, including at juvenile rehabilitation facilities. The office is in charge of helping citizens navigate state agencies serving children, youth and families, and investigating complaints about agencies' actions or conduct.

HB 1215

House Bill 1215 removes references to pregnancy from a suggested statutory template for an advance health care directive.

The suggested healthcare directive provided in state law includes a pregnancy provision reading: "If I have been diagnosed as pregnant and that diagnosis is known to my physician, this directive shall have no force or effect during the course of my pregnancy."

A person making an advance health care directive may alter the language from the provided sample by the state, but many are unaware they can do so.

A similar template in Idaho was ruled unconstitutional because it created a credible threat that an advance directive would not be honored if it failed to include the pregnancy exclusion, although it is not required by law.

Although Washington state law does not require advance directives to include the pregnancy exclusion, the sample language may lead people to believe their directives are not valid without it. Therefore, the language has been removed.

HB 1484

House Bill 1484 modifies a list of aggravating circumstances that support imposing an exceptional sentence on a convict above the standard range. This bill adds offenses where a rapist impregnates a victim, regardless of the victim's age.

SSB 5182

This bill amends the current language in Washington state law that relates to contracting midwives or doulas for incarcerated pregnant patients.

The bill removes language from Washington state law that says the Department of Corrections is not required to establish or provide funding for midwifery or doula services to incarcerated individuals, and instead specifies that nothing prevents the department from contracting with a nonprofit organization or partnering with volunteers to deliver these services.

SB 5632

This bill relates to protecting confidential records and information that may be relevant to another state's enforcement of its laws.

This bill prohibits agents of specified governmental entities from providing information to entities from another state to investigate or enforce another state's law that asserts criminal or civil liability related to the provision or receipt of protected health care services.

The term "assistance" is defined in the Shield Law to mean any action to help, aid, or support the provision or receipt of protected health care services, including but not limited to, providing financial, logistical, informational, or travel support to facilitate access to protected healthcare services.

The bill also requires businesses to notify the Attorney General's Office if they receive a subpoena for protected health care information with a missing attestation that the information will not be used in another state's criminal investigation.

SB 5093

This bill removes the jurisdiction of county coroners and medical examiners over bodies of deceased persons whose death resulted from known or suspected abortions, or due to premature births or stillbirths.

Correctional institutions and private detention facilities must report annually to the Department of Health on the aggregate number of people who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while confined or incarcerated in such facilities. The Department of Health will then report to the legislature on an annual basis. Personal identifying information will not be included in the reports.

HB 1858

This bill applies a document recording surcharge and a Covenant Homeownership Program Assessment fee to more documents recorded by a county auditor on behalf of members of the public. This will provide more funds for local homeless housing programs across the state.

SB 5583

This bill increases costs for recreational hunting and fishing licenses by approximately 38% overall, with exemptions to limit the increase on seniors and for certain packages of licenses. A senior rate is established for hunting licenses, offering an estimated 66% discount from the regular licensing fee.

HB 2015

This bill authorizes a new local 0.1% sales and use tax for criminal justice purposes and a Local Law Enforcement Grant Program.

The legislative authority for a city or county may implement the tax if it meets the requirements to receive grant funding, and funds collected must be used for criminal justice purposes. The new tax may only be imposed if and when the jurisdiction receives a grant.

HB 1207

This bill creates an additional $50 surcharge for certain filing fees collected by clerks of superior courts, with $5 retained by the county for the county clerk's office operations, and the remainder deposited into certain state accounts.

HB 1552

This bill increases the fee on real estate broker and managing broker licenses from $10 to $20.

These fees are also extended for another ten years.

SB 5686

This bill expands the Foreclosure Mediation Program to include unit owners who are delinquent or may become delinquent on their association assessments, and establishes the process and timelines for mediation.

An $80 fee will be collected on certain residential mortgage loan originations to be remitted to the foreclosure fairness account, and revises the distributions to fund the program.

HB 2081

This bill increases the business and occupation (B&O) tax on certain existing activities, creates an additional .05% surcharge on taxpayers with Washington taxable income over $250 million, increases the tax rate for several existing B&O surcharges, increases the annual cap for the Advanced Computing Surcharge and modifies the B&O intestment income deduction.

SB 5814

This bill imposes an additional tax on cigarettes, with an additional 10 cents per cigarette, or $2 per pack, for a total tax rate of $5.025 per tax. This is in addition to retail sales and use, B&O and litter taxes that already may apply. 

SB 5444

This bill creates several new special license plate options in the state of Washington. 

Aside from the license plates designated in this bill, there is a moratorium on new special license plate requests until 2029.

These are the new license plates: 

• Mount St. Helens, with proceeds going to the Mount St. Helens Institute to promote education, stewardship, and science at Mount St. Helens
• LeMay-America's Car Museum, with proceeds going to education and job training related to automobiles
• Smokey Bear, with proceeds going to the Department of Natural Resources wildfire prevention programs
• State Sport, with proceeds going to the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association to be used exclusively for the construction and maintenance of dedicated pickleball courts
• Keep Washington Evergreen, with proceeds going to the Electric Vehicle Account for the support of electric charging stations throughout Washington
• Historical Throwback, with proceeds used for expanding and improving driver's education programs and activities
• Honey Bees & Pollinators, with proceeds going to the Washington State Beekeepers Association to be used for research and educational activities and materials about honey bees and pollinators within Washington

These license plates are authorized, but may only be implemented if they submit 3,500 signatures in support of the special license: 

• Donate Life, with proceeds going to Life Center Northwest to build awareness for organ donation and organ donation registration
• Firefighter Memorial, with proceeds going to the Washington State Council of Firefighters to be used to benefit firefighters and their families in need
• Nautical Northwest, with proceeds going to support of historic resources of Whidbey Island's maritime communities
• Naval Academy, with proceeds going to the Veterans Stewardship Account to be used to benefit veterans or their families
• Seattle Reign FC, with proceeds going to the RAVE foundation to champion and empower girls, women, and gender diverse people, protect the Salish Sea, and advance equity for all, in play and life
• Working Forests, with proceeds going to the Washington Tree Farm Program to support small forest landowners

The annual renewal fee for a personalized license plate is raised from $42 to $52.

This bill is named after Sen. Bill Ramos, who was active in passing this legislation. 

HB 1747

This bill is aimed at expanding protections for people who have previously been convicted of crimes during the job application process.

The bill prohibits an employer from automatically or categorically excluding an individual with a criminal record from any job. The employer may only obtain information about an applicant's criminal record after making a conditional offer of employment.

It limits an employer's ability to pursue a tangible adverse employment action against an employee or applicant based on their criminal history information under certain circumstances.

ESSB 5459

This bill establishes requirements and penalties for call centers that move their operations to foreign countries. Call center operators will be required to notify the Employment Security Department 120 days before moving their call center to another country, and if they fail to do so, they could receive a penalty of up to $10,000 a day.

Call centers that do move their operations will not be eligible for grants or loans from state agencies for five years. State agencies that contract for call center services must include a provision that the work should be performed entirely in the United States, unless the contract is specifically for interpreter services.

SB 5501

This bill prohibits an employer from requiring a driver's license as a condition of employment, or including a statement on the job posting that an applicant must have a valid driver's license unless driving is one of the essential job functions or driving is related to a legitimate business purpose for the position.

SSB 5191

This bill makes changes to how certain employees who work for multiple employers under a collective bargaining agreement are considered under the Paid Family Medical Leave program, how those benefits will be paid for, and who will manage the payout.

HB 1308

This bill requires private employers to give former employees a copy of their personnel file within 21 days of a request and requires, if asked for, a statement of the employee's discharge date and the reasons, if any, they were discharged.

Previous state law required these documents to be provided within 10 days, but did not include any enforcement mechanism if the files were not transferred.

This bill lays out penalties if employers refuse to cooperate.

SB 5525

This bill requires, with some exceptions, employers with 50 or more employees to provide 60 days' notice in the event of a business closing or a mass layoff.

HB 1934

This bill redacts images, employee agency job titles, email addresses and phone numbers of complainants, accusers and witnesses, and alters their voices in audio recordings in public records related to investigations of unfair practices or workplace discrimination or harassment.

SB 5408

This bill strengthens Washington's salary and wage disclosure law, allowing applicants to know what a position pays, and allows employers time to come into compliance with state law.

An individual may provide written notice to an employer if a job posting does not comply with the disclosure of wage scale requirements. An employer has 14 days to correct the posting before penalties apply.

SHB 1821

This bill expands the definition of the term "interested party" to prevail wage laws.

An "interested party" may now apply to joint labor-management cooperation committees and Taft-Hartley trusts.

The bill requires an employer's certified payroll records to be provided to an "interested party" to enforce prevailing wage requirements.

EHB 1393

Engrossed House Bill 1393 requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to permit students to wear items or objects of cultural significance at high school commencements and other official graduation ceremonies and events.

HB 1351

This bill adjusts the age requirements for accessing the early childhood education and assistance program.

Children who turn 3 after August 31 of the school year will be able to enroll, subject to available space and funding, and provided they otherwise meet all standard ECEAP eligibility criteria. Children would previously have had to have turned 3 before August 31 to enroll for the same school year.

HB 1556

This bill waives a requirement that a student must be 19 years or older for governing boards of community or technical colleges to waive fees related to getting a high school diploma. The option will now be available for students who are 16 and older.

HB 1079

This bill allows school districts with online programs to offer remote statewide standardized tests beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

HB 1314

This bill makes changes to the state's Early Learning Facilities program. It establishes an emergency grant program to help childcare providers deal with unforeseen emergencies. The bill removed the requirement that beneficiaries of the program be able to put up matching funds and removed matching funds as a competitive criterion in consideration for program funding.

HB 1414

This bill directs the statewide career and technical education task force to recommend changes to laws and practices that affect the training, certification and employment of 16 and 17-year-olds enrolled in or who have completed career and technical education programs.

These changes will aim to improve students' access to sustained interactions with industry and community professionals and provide firsthand engagement with the tasks required for various career fields, while maintaining appropriate protections for the safety and welfare of minors.

SHB 1827

Substitute House Bill 1827 requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery and administration of basic education services to justice-involved students and improving the educational outcomes for those students.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is directed to research and analyze specific institutional education service delivery and governance options and describe how the agency will ensure the effective delivery and administration of basic education services to justice-involved students.

This law modifies existing education duties for the Superintendent of Public Instruction and implements a timeline. OSPI is required to adopt rules related to institutional education duties of the Superintendent by Sept. 1, 2028.

This work builds on years of legislation aimed at improving educational outcomes for justice-involved students, who have a graduation rate between 14% -17%.

HB 1722

House Bill 1722 makes changes to the state's current law governing 16- and 17-year-olds participating in secondary career and technical education programs to expand their opportunities.

The law requires the Department of Health to create a process to allow 16-year-olds to begin emergency medical technician training under certain circumstances. The State Fire Marshal's Office will be required to assess age restrictions on its training programs to increase professional and volunteer opportunities in the fire service for 16- and 17-year-olds. The Department of Labor and Industries is prohibited from banning minors with certain licensure or certifications from working in occupations with a high risk of exposure to bloodborne and other infectious diseases.

SSB 5030

This bill aims to make it easier to enroll children from low-income families in school by waiving some of the fees associated with procuring necessary documents, like a birth certificate.

This bill also requires that the Department of Children, Youth and Family Services and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction accept a variety of different identifying documents from families seeking to enroll their children in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program and public schools.

E2SSB 5355

This bill makes changes to improve safety at higher education institutions while supporting survivors of sexual assault.

The bill requires that ID cards issued by these institutions to students, staff and faculty include the number of a regional community-based organization focused on survivors of sexual assault, harassment and sex- and gender-based violence that provides 24-hour support.

The bill establishes additional requirements to be added to the list of rights for survivors of sexual assault, including:

• Survivors should be informed in writing of the policies governing the collection and preservation of a sexual assault kit.
• Upon written request of a survivor, be granted further preservation of his or her sexual assault kits or its probative contents, without charge;
• Upon written request of a survivor, receive written notification from the appropriate official with custody of his or her sexual assault kit not later than 60 days before the date of the intended destruction or disposal of the sexual assault kit.

This bill also prevents institutions from proposing, requesting, or pressuring a student reporting sexual misconduct to enter into a nondisclosure agreement.

2SSB 5358

Second Substitute Senate Bill 5358 specifies that school districts are allowed to enroll sixth-grade middle school students in exploratory career and technical education courses.

Middle school and high school CTE programs are to be treated as a single program for accounting purposes.

SB 5641

This school encourages school districts, charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools to provide instruction in awareness of blood donation. This instruction may be included in at least one health class required for graduation, beginning the 2025-26 school year.

ESHB 1572

This bill modifies some accreditation standards for institutions of higher education operating in Washington state.

The bill allows nonprofit degree-granting institutions to be exempt from undergoing a separate accreditation process in Washington if certain requirements have already been met.

Northeastern University, which has a campus in Seattle, is caught in what the House legal counsel called a "Catch 22." The university as a whole is already accredited, however, state law previously specified that the Seattle branch itself would have to receive a separate accreditation. At the same time, individual branch accreditation is against the policy of the existing accreditor for Northeastern University. This bill will allow Washington state to recognize Northeastern's existing accreditation.

A second part to the bill outlines specific standards that accrediting bodies must meet to be recognized by the Washington Student Achievement Council.

SB 5110

This bill allows community and technical colleges to waive tuition and fees for tribal elders who are over the age of 55 and belong to federally recognized Indian tribes whose traditional lands and territories include parts of Washington.

SB 5315

This bill makes a variety of changes to the governance of nonpublic agencies that are operating special education programs for students with disabilities.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will be required to establish standards for approving, monitoring and investigating nonpublic agencies that contract with school districts to provide these programs. This bill also establishes minimum nonpublic agency requirements, minimum school district requirements, and requires OSPI to annually report to the legislature regarding student placements at nonpublic agencies, among other requirements and specifications.

HB 1167

This bill directs the state Career and Technical Education Task Force to make recommendations that open up opportunities to postsecondary education programs that award training, certification and watchkeeping credentials for careers in maritime professions.

HB 1587

This bill establishes Local Government Partner Promise Scholarship Programs within the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Program (WSOS).

WSOS provides scholarships to low- and middle-income resident students pursuing high-demand baccalaureate degrees in STEM and healthcare, and to encourage them to stay and work in Washington state after they finish their degrees.

With this bill, local governments will establish their promise scholarship programs. The WSOS will assist with the selection, notification and disbursement of scholarship awards. The local award amount must be equal to the difference between the recipient's total tuition and fees minus any state aid. The local government may provide additional funds to cover additional costs if it chooses.

SB 5025

This bill makes several modifications to guidelines around educational interpreters.

The Professional Educator Standards Board is directed to adopt separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind educational interpreters, as necessary. This bill creates a two-tiered certificate system for educational interpreters, which grants limited certificates to interpreters who have met a limited performance assessment standard and a full certificate to interpreters who have met the full standard.

Rules may be adopted to limit the number of times an educational interpreter may take an educational interpreter assessment to qualify for a certificate.

SB 5253

This bill requires special education and related services to be provided for students with disabilities to the end of the school year in which a student turns 22 or high school graduation, whichever comes first. The former limit was 21 years old.

By Oct. 30, 2026, OSPI, the Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Services for the Blind and any other state agency working with individuals with disabilities must collaborate to update the implementation plan for improving transition planning activities for students who will likely become eligible for services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

The updated plan should include the provision of coordinated transition services, examples of how coordinated transition services can be provided to students between the ages of 16 to 22 to ensure a seamless transition to postschool life and how transition services are provided in a way that supplements, and not supplants, the state.

SB 5189

This bill takes steps to implement competency-based education in Washington state.

Competency-based education (CBE) is defined as a program model in which students advance upon demonstrated mastery of the content, where students receive "rapid, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs," and learning outcomes emphasize students being able to apply and create knowledge, and develop important skills and dispositions.

This bill requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt rules to authorize funding for students enrolled in CBE programs and to create competencies aligned with state learning standards. The State Board of Education is required to develop and recommend a process to identify and designate schools and districts implementing CBE, and identify the costs associated with the process.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will be required to review barriers related to students participating in CBE and its rule adoption process.

The board of education will be required to develop or identify and recommend a format for a CBE high school transcript as part of, or as an alternative to, the standardized high school transcript.

SB 5543

This bill expands eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship to students who have received a high school equivalency certificate.

HB 1709

This bill relates to care for students with adrenal insufficiency.

School districts are now required to provide individual health plans for students with adrenal insufficiency and adopt policies governing the care of these students, including requiring legal documents granting permission for a parent-designated adult to provide care for a student.

The bill specifies that adults chosen by the parents to care for their child at school must complete training in the procedures required to care for the child, including the administration of emergency medication. These adults, school districts and school employees, as well as "agents acting in good faith" and in substantial compliance with state law, are not criminally or civilly liable for damages as a result of the services provided to the student.

SB 5009

This bill expands the type of vehicles allowed to be used to transport students to and from school by school districts.

The transportation distribution formula may not mandate the type of vehicle to be used for pupil transportation. The school bus purchase and reimbursement statute is expanded to apply to student vehicles rather than only school buses.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to come up with rules for drivers transporting students in Washington State Patrol-inspected school vehicles other than buses. A driver that exclusively transports students in such a vehicle must have the appropriate license for that vehicle, and may not be required to hold a commercial driver's license.

SB 5412

This bill allows for school districts in the state of Washington that are under binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to make a temporary interfund loan from their capital projects fund, subject to conditions.

HB 1106

This bill grants a property tax exemption to more disabled veterans.

Veterans are assigned a disability rating based on the severity of their service-connected condition. The rating is assigned as a percentage, which represents how a veteran's disability decreased their overall health and their ability to function.

In the previous version of Washington state law, disabled veterans had to have an evaluation rating percentage of 80 or over to qualify for the property tax relief. This new law allows veterans with a disability rating percentage of 40 to qualify for the exemption.

HB 1403

This bill aims to make condominiums more available by modifying some of the laws around their construction. Developers will be exempt from some warranty and inspection requirements and construction provisions.

HB 1516

This bill requires the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study of insurance coverage options and approaches to reduce condominium construction defect liability for permanently affordable homeownership units.

HB 1757

This bill modifies regulations for existing buildings that are repurposed for residential housing.

The bill extends allowances for existing buildings to be used for residential purposes in commercial and mixed-use zones to existing buildings in residential zones. Cities are prohibited from requiring a change of use permit for the conversion of an existing building for a residential purpose. Portions of existing buildings that will be used for residential purposes will be exempt from State Energy Code requirements if certain conditions are met.

SB 5184

This bill prevents cities from enforcing a number of minimum parking requirements related to residential housing.

• Prohibits cities and counties from requiring more than 0.5 parking spaces per residential dwelling unit
• Prohibits cities and counties from requiring more than one parking space per 1,000 square feet of commercial space.
• Prohibits cities and counties from requiring any minimum parking requirements for existing buildings undergoing change of use and various other categories of residential and commercial buildings.
• Provides various exceptions to parking limitations, including for cities or code cities with a population of 20,000 or less.

SB 5298

This bill makes changes to the procedures that take place when the owner of a manufactured or mobile home park intends to put the property up for sale.

Previous legislation created a requirement that landlords would be required to provide a "Notice of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase" to their tenants, which would give them the chance to organize funds to buy the land their mobile or manufactured homes are on, versus selling to a private equity firm that may drastically increase the rent.

The bill's prime sponsor, Sen. Noel Frame, said this bill makes technical updates to the previous legislation based on lessons learned since it was passed.

SB 5313

This bill updates the list of provisions that are prohibited in residential rental agreements.

Landlords may not ask tenants to:

• Waive or forgo any cause of action against a landlord, including a class action
• Sign a nondisclosure agreement relating to the lease agreement or details of the offer, including rent amount, security deposits or fees, rent concessions, move-in gifts or lease specials or terms
• Arbitrate disputes, unless the landlord pays the entire cost of the arbitration, and the agreement is notarized

SB 5529

This bill aimed to incentivize rentals to low-income households by exempting the value of accessory dwelling units from property taxes to more counties.

The exemption was previously allowed in counties with more than 1.5 million people. Now, counties between 900,000 and 1.5 million also qualify. The following restrictions apply:

• The exemption applies only to detached units on the same real property
• The county assessor may collect a fee from the taxpayer in an amount necessary to cover the costs of administering the exemption
• The county assessor may determine what the property tax and penalties will be due, if any, in the case that the enacting legislative authority finds noncompliance by a taxpayer

SB 5611

This bill streamlines and clarifies local governments' land use permitting workloads.

HB 1491

This bill aims to make it easier to build multi-family housing and mixed-use developments near community transit stations. 

Cities planning under the Growth Management Act will be required to allow new residential and mixed-use development within a station area at certain transit-oriented development densities. Affordability requirements are established and a 20-year multifamily property tax exemption for residential and mixed-use buildings is authorized within a station area. 

Cities will be required to reduce certain impact fees by 50% if the project is within a station area and claims the 20-year multi-family tax exemption. The Department of Commerce will be required to administer a grant program to assist cities in providing the infrastructure, planning and staffing necessary to implement the transit-oriented density requirements. 

SB 5148

This bill makes multiple changes to ensure compliance with the housing element requirements of the Growth Management Act. 

This bill will help increase housing development and permitting predictability across the state. 

SB 5571

This bill prohibits a city, code city, or county from requiring or excluding exterior cladding materials that comply with the state building code. 

Exterior cladding is defined as non-load-bearing material attached to the outside of a building. This rule does not apply to homeowner's associations and plat communities, or common interest communities in which units have been created by subdivision or short-subdivision. 

A legislative summary of the bill testimony indicated this bill is intended to make it more cost-effective to build in Washington. There are some cities that prohibit certain types of siding that can be more cost-effective and more efficient for builders. 

SB 5559

This bill requires cities and towns fully planning under the Growth Management Act to adopt or enact procedures for unit lot subdivisions by certain deadlines, and sets specific requirements for the procedures. If cities or towns have not adopted or enacted procedures for unit lot subdivisions, they may not decline to process an application for one consistent with the procedural requirements. 

HB 1353

This bill is intended to bring down costs and permitting times for cities planning for new housing under the state's Growth Management Act. This bill allows registered architects to review and certify that their plans comply with all applicable requirements. 

HB 1075

This bill makes a technical change to Washington state law clarifying that in public-private affordable housing partnerships, 50% of the built units or mobile home lots in low-income housing developments must be reserved for, and the rents must be affordable to, clients earning 80% of the area median income or below. 

This bill also removes a requirement that rents in these developments may not exceed 15% of the area's median income.

2SHB 1183

This bill aims to incentivize affordable and sustainable building practices through building code and development regulation reform.

The bill requires cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act to modify setback, height limit and gross floor area requirements for specific types of developments. The bill modifies off-street parking and affordable housing unit size requirements.

SSHB 1696

This bill the Covenant Homeownership Program by raising the area median income threshold for eligibility to 120%, authorizing full loan forgiveness under certain circumstances and modifying one of the membership positions on the oversight committee.

HB 1096

This bill requires cities to establish an administrative approval process for a lot split, which may be combined with concurrent review of a residential building permit for new single-family or middle housing. 

SB 5471

This bill allows counties planning under the Growth Management Act to authorize multi-family housing types on parcels for single-family residences in designated urban growth areas and limited areas for more intensive rural development. 

ESB 5065

This bill prohibits the use of certain animals in traveling animal acts. This list includes elephants, bears, nonhuman primates, felines (excluding domestic cats and hybrids of these species. Allowing any prohibited animal to participate in an act is punishable by a gross misdemeanor.

HB 1149 

This bill expands the list of actions that qualify as animal cruelty and animal fighting.

Under the new law, a person engages in animal cruelty when they instigate, engage in or in any way further an act of animal cruelty, or fail to provide an animal with necessary shelter, rest, sanitation, space or medical attention, as well as necessary food or water, and because of this the animal suffers unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain. A person may be charged with animal fighting if they aid or abet in the commission of the offense in any way.

The bill also modifies the penalties for such offenses.

SHB 1205

Substitute House Bill 1205 classifies knowingly distributing a forged digital likeness of another person as criminal impersonation in the second degree.

When a person knowingly distributes a forged digital likeness of another person and passes it off as a genuine visual representation or audio recording with the intent to defraud, harass, threaten, intimidate or achieve any other unlawful purpose, or knows or reasonably should know the forged digital likeness is not genuine, they can be charged with this crime.

HB 1562

This bill will put baby changing stations in all men's and gender neutral bathrooms, in addition to women's bathrooms, for all new public building construction and buildings seeking permits for bathroom renovations that exceed $15,000. Failing to install one where required will be classified as a civil infraction.

ESSB 5202

This bill aims to ensure the efficacy of judicial orders when used as harm reduction tools in domestic violence cases.

The bill amends various provisions relating to civil protection orders, including requiring county clerks to give ample notice of an expiring protection order and sealing a confidential information notice if accidentally disclosed.

The bill also allows people who have turned 18 to renew protection orders that were ordered on their behalf when they were a minor.

The bill specifies that a person commits the crime of Unlawful Possession of a firearm in the first degree if they own, access, receive, or have in their custody, control, or possession an untraceable or undetectable firearm while subject to certain qualifying court orders.

E2SSB 5355

This bill makes changes to improve safety at higher education institutions while supporting survivors of sexual assault.

The bill requires that ID cards issued by these institutions to students, staff and faculty include the number of a regional community-based organization focused on survivors of sexual assault, harassment and sex- and gender-based violence that provides 24-hour support.

The bill establishes additional requirements to be added to the list of rights for survivors of sexual assault, including:

• Survivors should be informed in writing of the policies governing the collection and preservation of a sexual assault kit.
• Upon written request of a survivor, be granted further preservation of his or her sexual assault kits or its probative contents, without charge;
• Upon written request of a survivor, receive written notification from the appropriate official with custody of his or her sexual assault kit not later than 60 days before the date of the intended destruction or disposal of the sexual assault kit.

This bill also prevents institutions from proposing, requesting, or pressuring a student reporting sexual misconduct to enter into a nondisclosure agreement.

ESHB 1201

This bill makes it easier for people to identify emergency shelters where they can take their pets.

The bill requires political subdivisions to identify shelters that accept pets in each update to their local comprehensive emergency plans. Political subdivisions will be required to identify emergency shelters that can accommodate companion animals in their existing plan structures and provide companion animal emergency preparedness information on their websites.

Pet ownership is the highest risk factor for non-evacuation compliance in an emergency or a disaster. Making clear the options and providing more options to accommodate pets will save lives.

ESHB 1531

This bill requires public health responses to communicable diseases to be guided by the best available science. It stipulates that state and local officials must implement and promote evidence-based, appropriate measures to control the spread of communicable diseases, including immunizations and vaccines.

SB 5163

This bill modernizes the child fatality review statute. Various provisions were modified, including renaming them from mortality to fatality reviews, expanding reviews to include children up to 19, and requiring various entities to provide records and data requested for specific child fatality reviews to the local health department.

Witness statements or documents collected from witnesses, or summaries of these records prepared for child fatality review, may be introduced into evidence in a criminal proceeding related to the death of the child reviewed.

SHB 1061

This bill aims to increase parking flexibility in residential neighborhoods. Cities and counties may now allow residential property owners to park, or allow others to park, across the point of ingress or egress (entry and exit) of the owner’s driveway, subject to certain conditions.

2SHB 1391

This bill aims to improve developmentally appropriate alternatives for youth outside the formal court process.

Under the bill, parents and guardians will not be able to prevent their juvenile from entering into a diversion agreement. The bill also requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop common definitions, outcome measures and data collection methods for both informal and formal diversion programs with a report due on July 1, 2026.

HB 1755

This bill exempts elective percutaneous coronary interventions provided in a hospital owned or operated by a state entity from certificate of need requirements.

Yale Medicine defines a percutaneous coronary intervention as a non-surgical procedure used to treat blockages in the coronary artery.

According to the Department of Health, this procedure is considered to be a tertiary service, and a hospital must secure a “certificate of need” before it can introduce any new tertiary health services. This means hospitals may perform emergency percutaneous coronary interventions, but not elective ones, which puts vulnerable and marginalized patients at a disadvantage.

SHB 1899

The Point In Time Count is a count of all sheltered and unsheltered populations experiencing homelessness undertaken yearly by communities across the nation per requirements from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The count is required in order to receive federal funds supporting homelessness efforts. This count is typically done during the last 10 days of January.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD switched to requiring PIT counts every two years instead of every year. This bill modifies Washington's law to allow the Department of Commerce to schedule these PIT counts on a timeline they deem appropriate while complying with HUD requirements.

PIT counts have been criticized as painting an inaccurate picture of local homelessness. It's disputed that these counts can capture the full scope of the homeless population. Doing the count less often will also lift some administrative and financial burden from local jurisdictions.

ESHB 1815

This bill alters existing law around prison riot offenses as it relates to juvenile offenders.

The definition of "correctional institution" now excludes facilities operated by the Department of Children, Youth and Families for the purposes of the Prison Riot offense, and will apply retroactively for the past five years. A process will be established for individuals who were adjudicated or convicted of prison riot offenses while at a DCYF facility or county juvenile detention facility to vacate those convictions and seek resentencing if that crime was the reason why they are incarcerated.

DCYF will instead classify riot behaviors as infractions to be managed through the internal behavioral management infraction system.

SHB 1171

This bill creates an exception to the mandated reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect requirements for attorneys employed by public or private institutions of higher education, and employees under the supervision or direction of those attorneys, as it relates to information related to the representation of a client.

This bill is specifically aimed at lawyers who run legal clinics at any of the three law schools in Washington. As employees in higher education, they are mandatory reporters, but that can run contrary to their responsibilities to those they represent through their legal clinic work, especially young people with complex family situations. Legal clinics in Washington are an important resource amid a shortage of public defenders.

SB 5689

This bill adds an option for blood type information to be added to driver's licenses and ID cards, making the information more accessible to first responders.

SB 5323

SB 5323 classifies stealing or possessing stolen property that is critical to the work of firefighters or emergency medical services (EMS) as first-degree theft, and/or first-degree possession of stolen property, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or a $20,000 fine.

Charges of first-degree theft or first-degree possession of stolen property previously only applied when the property stolen or possessed exceeded $5,000 in value, the property was stolen directly from someone's person, someone stole a search and rescue dog while they were working, or they took commercial metal property, nonferrous metal property or private metal property and caused more than $5,000 in damage.

This bill makes it so stealing property of any value that is vital to a first responder's performance of their duties, or stealing a total of $1,000 worth of any property from a fire station or EMS facility or vehicle, qualifies as first-degree possession or theft

HB 1878

This bill makes driver's ed a requirement for 18-21 year olds looking to get their driver's license.

Currently, people over the age of 18 only have to take the driver's test to earn a license, but beginning in 2027, that will change.

The requirements will be phased in over the next five years, with drivers 18 years of age required to take driver's ed beginning in 2027, for 19-year-olds in 2028, for 20-year-olds in 2029, and 21-year-olds in 2030.

HB 1457

This bill would require courts to impose electronic monitoring that has specific tracking and notification capabilities before a sexually violent predator is released to a less restrictive alternative form of community custody.

This type of monitoring will be an improvement upon existing capabilities, including allowing the state to track and define where sexually violent predators are permitted to travel. provide real-time tracking, programmable inclusion and exclusion zones and the ability to notify agencies if a person tampers with their monitoring device or enters an area they aren't supposed to be in.

SHB 1133

Substitute House Bill 1133 allows county prosecuting attorneys or the state attorney general more avenues to access or compel relevant documents or records when they are working to determine whether a person should be civilly committed as a sexually violent predator.

The bill would close a loophole to completely prevent sexually violent predators from earning supervision compliance credit, which can shorten an offender's time in custody.

ESHB 1141

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1141 creates collective bargaining procedures for certain agricultural workers involved in the cannabis industry.

Agricultural employees do not currently fall under the National Labor Relations Act, which grants private sector workers the right to organize, form, join, or assist labor organizations, and bargain collectively. This bill grants agricultural cannabis workers that right within the state of Washington, and sets out procedures through which to do so.

This bill puts the administration and enforcement of these procedures under the purview of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). PERC typically only administers and enforces procedures for employees in the public sector, however, there is precedent of the organization representing symphony musicians employed by orchestras with gross revenue of more than $300,000, who are not otherwise covered by the NLRA.

HB 1341

This bill allows the Liquor and Cannabis Board to verify excise tax exemptions through the medical cannabis authorization database.

Cannabis concentrates, useable cannabis and cannabis-infused products sold at retail in Washington state have a 37% excise tax added to the selling price. Qualifying patients and designated providers are exempt from this tax for purchases of cannabis products sold by retailers with a medical cannabis endorsement and for products identified by the Department of Health as being a compliant medical cannabis product. This bill allows the Liquor and Cannabis Board to ensure tax exemptions are only applied to qualified products from qualified retailers and share information with the Department of Health.

SHB 1294

Substitute House Bill 1294 extends the expiration date of the Pesticide Application Safety Committee to July 1, 2035, from July 1, 2025. 

SB 5106

Senate Bill 5106 officially recognizes the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Washington. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha commemorates the sacrifice made by the Prophet Abraham. Both of these holidays are linked to the Islamic calendar, so they fall on different days in the Gregorian calendar every year. 

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau and Rep. Osman Salahuddin, the sole Muslim members of Washington's legislature. 

The holidays join 20 others on Washington state's official calendar that are recognized, but not considered paid legal holidays, like Lunar New Year, Billy Frank Jr. Day, Water Safety Day, Korean American Day and others. 

HB 1631

House Bill 1631 designates bull kelp forests as the official marine forest of Washington state. 

Bull kelp is a vital food source for many different marine animals, and a cultural resource for some Northwest tribal nations. However, bull kelp forests have declined by over 90% in the central and south Puget Sound regions over the past 150 years.

In 2022, the Department of Natural Resources was directed to develop a statewide Kelp Forest and Eelgrass Meadow Health and Conservation Plan to conserve and restore at least 10,000 acres of kelp forest and eelgrass meadow habitat by 2040. 

The designation of bull kelp as the state marine forest aims to raise awareness of the necessity to preserve and restore this plant in the Puget Sound's marine ecosystem.

HB 1081

Solicited real estate transactions happen when the buyer solicits the property owner through public advertising, or written, electronic, or in-person contact, and the property is not currently listed for sale on the market. 

House Bill 1081 gives a property owner in a solicited real estate transaction the right to an appraisal and the right to cancel a purchase contract by sending a notice of cancellation through mail, telegram, email, or other means of written communication. Contracts with solicited real estate buyers must include a statement about the property owner's rights. These adjustments to state law will be enforced under the Consumer Protection Act. This bill is meant to protect property owners from predatory home buyers. 

SB 5244

This bill allows WIC staff to perform blood tests on program participants, as opposed to requiring a medical assistant to do so. A blood test for anemia is required before a participant can be fully enrolled in the program, which provides financial assistance for food and healthcare to mothers and children. This will allow the program and participants to catch any signs of anemia early, so they can be addressed by WIC staff through nutrition plans and program referrals, and to be more easily enrolled in the program. 

SHB 1720

This bill expands caregivers' ability to help residents in a care facility administer their insulin. Previous state law limited how caregivers who were not medical practitioners could help. They were only allowed to hand residents a pre-filled insulin syringe. This new law allows caregivers to hand residents any type of insulin device that they use to self-inject, including insulin pens. 

HB 1130

This bill directs the Department of Social and Health Services Developmental Disabilities Administration to prioritize specific populations when enrolling eligible clients in open home and community-based service waiver slots. 

Home and community-based service waivers for those with developmental disabilities allow clients who live in community settings to receive optional services at the same level as they would receive in an institutional setting. Waiver services are designed to promote everyday activities, routines and relationships and may include services targeted at community integration, support services, caregiving, equipment, supplies and other specialized services. 

When there is capacity on the waiver, the Developmental Disabilities Administration must prioritize who gets access to services. This bill maintains many of the existing categories, while adding a few more to "reflect current circumstances," according to a legislative summary. 

HB 1186

This bill expands the situations in which hospitals and health care entities are authorized to dispense or distribute medications, including in instances where community or hospital outpatient pharmacy services will not be available within 48 hours, when anti-infectives or HIV PEP drugs or therapies are required, or when drugs or therapies are packaged directly by the manufacturer in quantities larger than a 48-hour supply that cannot be limited to a 48-hour supply. 

An example of a medication that cannot be limited to a 48-hour supply is an inhaler. Patients are typically shown how to use one in an emergency room, but because it has a higher-than-allowed supply of the medication, under previous law, the inhaler would have to be thrown away once the patient is discharged.

HB 1395

This bill streamlines the screening process for caregivers by updating the background check process for those with past convictions. 

If anything is flagged on an applicant's background check, they typically must undergo a Character, Competence and Suitability Review to ensure they are fit to be a caregiver. If more than 10 years have passed since the applicant's last nonautomatically disqualifying conviction or negative action, or a review has already been conducted by the employer for a past application, a review will not be necessary. 

Applicants who are awaiting the results of a CCS review may work for up to 30 days before the review is complete, provided their background check did not include any automatically disqualifying convictions or negative actions, among other updates to the law. 

HB 1007

House Bill 1007 modifies small claims court notice claims to say that if a defendant doesn't appear in court, a judgment "may" be entered against them instead of "will" be entered against them. 

Skagit County small claims court judges brought the issue to the state's attention because the previous notices advised that judgment would be entered against defendants automatically if they didn't appear in court. However, there are some cases where it's not appropriate to rule against an absent defendant, including in instances where a plaintiff cannot prove monetary damage. Judges said they were having problems with plaintiffs who expected the default judgments regardless of the merits of their case. 

The new notice now reflects that judges may rule against plaintiffs regardless of whether or not a defendant is there, giving them a more realistic expectation of the process. 

HB 1009

This bill changes the membership of the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission. 

HB 1012

This bill allows the Washington State Women's Commission to solicit gifts, grants and endowments from public and private sources for the benefit of the commission. 

HB 1013

This bill adds positions within the Department of Social and Health Services exempt from the state Civil Service law. 

HB 1014

This bill implements recommendations from the 2023 child support schedule work group, which is charged with reviewing the state's child support laws every four years. 

The latest recommendations update the child support economic table to extend to income levels of $50,000 and to raise the floor to income levels of $2,200. 

HB 1018

This bill allows fusion energy facilities to use the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council certification process and specifies the type of nuclear power facilities that must use this process are fission nuclear power facilities. 

HB 1024 

This bill increases the maximum lease length for Saint Edward State Park from 62 years to 80 years.

HB 1039

This bill allows for urban governmental services to extend beyond the city and urban growth areas to property within a federally recognized Indian tribe's jurisdiction that abuts a city's boundaries, if the Tribe and the City agree. 

HB 1054

This bill increases the length of time of county ferry maintenance contracts to 10 years. The previous length of time was one year. 

HB 1060

This bill clarifies a Washington state law that temporarily exempted newspapers from paying the business and occupation tax. When this exemption ends in 2034, newspapers will now pay a tax rate of .484% on all activities not eligible for exemption. Before the bill, the tax rate would have been higher. 

HB 1068

This bill grants interest arbitration rights to Washington Management Service employees within the Department of Corrections. 

SB 5118

This bill makes changes to limited licenses granted to graduates of international medical schools. A one-year residency requirement is eliminated, international medical graduates must only complete steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing examination to be eligible, and the license may be renewed up to three times in eight years. 

SB 5006

This bill modifies the Washington corporation acts.

SB 5084

This bill authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to require health carriers to annually report primary care expenditures. 

SB 5122

This bill enacts the Antitrust Premerger Notification Act. Certain parties filing premerger notification forms and documents with federal agencies will also need to file such documents with the Washington Attorney General. This bill establishes confidentiality and reciprocity requirements and establishes a civil penalty for violations. 

SB 5457

This bill moves the business and occupation tax on radio and television broadcasting activities to a new section of the B&O tax code. 

SB 5577

This bill requires the Health Care Authority to provide coverage to enrollees in medical assistance programs for all HIV antiviral drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration without prior authorization or step therapy. 

SB 5128

This bill directs the Health Care Authority to collaborate with specific entities to implement federal requirements to provide screening, diagnostic and targeted case management services to Medicaid enrollees who are under 21 and incarcerated and approaching their release date. 

HB 1094

This bill provides a property tax exemption to nonprofit organizations that are loaning, leasing, or renting to government agencies that are using those properties for character-building, benevolent, protective, or rehabilitative social services. 

HB 1135

This bill closes a loophole in Washington state law that allowed counties or cities to remain out of compliance with the Growth Management Act by allowing them to revert to older regulations. This bill means the Growth Management Hearing Board will require cities and counties to come into complete compliance with the act. 

HB 1142

This bill aligns training requirements and certification exemptions for long-term care workers providing in-home care for family members, whether such care is provided by an individual provider through the Consumer Direct Care Network, through a home care agency and paid for by Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (WA Cares), or through the WA Cares third option, to be defined in rule by the Department of Social and Health Services.

HB 1190

This bill expands access to the Health Evidence Resource for Washington State.

HB 1234

This bill makes technical changes to the state law governing the Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Social Workers Advisory Committee. 

HB 1511

This bill is a technical bill that would allow the Washington State Ferries captains' bargaining unit to consolidate with the Washington State Ferries mates' bargaining unit.

SHB 1706

This bill aligns state law with federal requirements about insurance carriers' online prior authorization applications.

The bill requires insurance carriers to modernize and automate the process to make prior authorization requests quicker for providers.

SB 5141

This bill specifies that disability income insurers must include all factors that they use to determine their premium rates in filings to the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. 

SB 5209

This bill is a technical update that lists the Department of Labor and Industries as a limited authority Washington law enforcement agency, while not granting the department any new enforcement authority. 

SSB 5316

This bill makes technical modifications to existing laws about unclaimed property, and clarifies the definitions, terms, abandonment periods and administrative procedures for that program. A full list of modifications can be seen by clicking here.

HB 1112

This bill removes a requirement that a judge pro tempore in municipal courts for cities over 400,000 residents must reside in the cities themselves. The new requirement states that the judge must only be an elector in Washington and an attorney admitted to practice law in Washington. 

HB 1157

This bill adds great-grandchildren to the list of types of family members that are considered qualified applicants to get death or birth certificates for their relatives. 

HB 1172

This bill allows fire protection districts to opt out of civil service, which some small districts say will help them with staffing. Districts can opt out if they meet certain requirements, which may help with doing away with some bureaucratic hurdles in hiring and recruitment. 

HB 1304

This bill specifies that a boundary review board has 45 days from the effective filing date of a notice of intention regarding a local government's proposed action to determine whether that action will be reviewed by the board. It also provides instructions about how the effective filing date of such a notice is determined. 

HB 1361

This bill updates process service requirements for business entities and motorists. 

HB 1947

This bill allows new Group B public water systems to not be owned or operated by a satellite system management agency if the water system meets certain requirements. 

SHB 1490

This bill adds certain persons to a list of those who are required to submit fingerprints during a background check in certain instances. Long-term care service providers and people applying for jobs at transitional care facilities will be required to submit fingerprints, as well as individuals over 16 years of age living in the home of a child placement provider, where a foster child may stay, or a companion home provider, where an individual with developmental disabilities who is 18 years or older may stay. 

HB 1114

This bill creates the Respiratory Care Practitioner Compact, which allows licensed respiratory care practitioners to practice in any of the states within the compact, increasing residents' access to these services. 

HB 1006

This bill modifies the financial responsibility provisions for protection product guarantee providers and service contract providers for motor vehicles, as well as making changes to requirements for reimbursement insurance policies used by service contract providers and protection product guarantee providers. 

HB 1156

This bill allows volunteer firefighters to participate in the Washington State Deferred Compensation Program, which is a supplemental savings program previously only available to state employees and the employees of local governments that participated in the program. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that provides more flexibility to save for retirement. This is a new benefit and recruitment tactic meant to bolster volunteer firefighter participation. 

HB 1760 

This bill exempts some sellers of manufactured homes from being classified as vehicle dealers, which comes with costly fees. 

Under this law, community land trusts, resident nonprofit cooperatives, local governments, public housing authorities, nonprofit communities or neighborhood-based organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes in Washington or regional statewide nonprofit housing assistance organizations that sell fewer than 12 manufactured homes to low-income households at cost within 12 months will not be considered vehicle dealers and therefore are not subject to the licensing and regulation requirements vehicle dealers are subject to. 

SHB 1824

This bill establishes that a birthing center accredited by a birthing center accrediting body is not subject to a state licensure survey if certain conditions are met. 

National accrediting bodies exceed state requirements while requiring state regulations be followed, so state inspections can create redundancy for already accredited centers. This law change saves money and time for both birthing centers and the Department of Health. 

SHB 1260

This bill redistributes where the money from a document recording fee goes. 

It costs $183 for county auditors to record certain documents, and 30% of the money goes to supporting county homelessness and housing plans and programs. 

This bill directs counties to make distributions from these funds to cities operating their homeless housing program, versus the county keeping the full amount. 

SHB 1325

This bill classifies certain hunting, firearm, fishing guide and hydraulic code violations as natural resource infractions. This allows the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to impose its fines, instead of going through the court system. This will lighten the load on the courts and create an avenue for more immediate accountability from offenders. 

Trafficking a certain amount of seaweed will be classified as unlawful trafficking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife in the second degree. 

SHB 1105

This bill requires that public agencies soliciting public comment must include the first and last day that public comment is accepted in the notice. An agency that fails to do so would be subject to a $500 fine for a first violation and a $1,000 fine for any subsequent violations. 

2SHB 1273

This bill extends a pilot program to cover certain expenses of secondary and postsecondary schools to allow for increased participation in career and technical education dual credit opportunities. 

The bill directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to report to the legislature on the implementation of the bill and provide recommendations for improvements on dual credit policies. 

HB 1279

This bill is an act related to consumer protections for post-secondary students. The act puts certain consumer protection requirements on State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, which allow institutions to streamline regulations around distance education. 

HB 1222

This bill makes adjustments to the type of information redacted in public records obtained by the Gambling Commission. Information, including additional financial statements and transactions, information that describes certain internal operational systems or procedures of a gambling facility, security information, and certain gaming equipment information, will be redacted. The Gambling Commission said this will help keep the criminal element out of gambling. 

HB 1287 

This bill allows a client's written acknowledgement of a disclosure statement, as well as information behavioral health professionals obtained from a client to render treatment, to be disclosed under the Uniform Health Care Information Act. 

This bill will make it easier for mental health care professionals to communicate necessary information to each other about patient treatment. This information will still be protected by state and federal health care privacy laws. 

HB 1540

This bill amends the Student Experiencing Homelessness Program to add another college. 

The program requires participating community and technical colleges to provide accommodations to homeless students and students who were in foster care when they graduated from high school. The accommodations include access to laundry facilities, storage, locker rooms and showers, and technology, reduced-priced meals or meal plans, access to short-term housing or housing assistance, especially during seasonal breaks, and case management services. 

This bill adds Northwest Indian College, the sole tribal college in Washington, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, to the Student Experiencing Homelessness program. 

ESSHB 1563

This bill would establish a pilot program to reimburse claims for certain damages resulting from prescribed or cultural burns, either on lands under the DNR's fire protection authority or on tribal lands where there is an agreement with the DNR. 

The bill summary notes that while escapes from prescribed burns are rare, the liability concerns mean the practice is underutilized. Fire is a valuable tool in stewarding resilient forests, so alleviating some of the liability concerns could increase its use, meaning Washington would be better able to prevent catastrophic fires in the future. 

SHB 1669

This bill expands coverage requirements for prosthetic limbs or orthotic braces. A small group or large group health plan issued or renewed after Jan. 1, 2026, must include coverage for one or more prostheses per limb and custom orthotic braces per limb when medically necessary.

ESHB 1718

This bill is an act relating to well-being programs for certain healthcare professionals. The bill adjusts current law so that, under certain circumstances, these physician well-being programs are exempt from mandatory reporting requirements. The bill protects physician well-being program records from disclosure under certain circumstances. 

ESSB 5200 

This bill provides an exemption from adult family home licensure requirements for medical foster homes caring for veterans if these homes are already under the oversight of and annually reviewed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, if care is provided exclusively to three or fewer veterans and its caregivers comply with all applicable state laws. The bill aims to help with the growing number of veterans who are increasingly requiring medical care and offers access to a lower-cost alternative for veterans and their families.

This bill also extends requirements regarding certification and training for long-term care workers to medical foster home caregivers. 

SB 5049

This bill revises a requirement that the sunshine committee, which is tasked with reviewing statutory exemptions from public disclosure, meet four times annually, versus once quarterly. This allows for more flexibility in scheduling. 

SB 5037

This bill adopts the Uniform Custodial Trusts Act in Washington state to allow for a simplified method of creating a trust in which the beneficiary who is not incapacitated has the power to direct the management of the trust property and the payment of income to the beneficiary. 

If the beneficiary is incapacitated, the custodial trustee continues to manage the property as a discretionary trust under the prudent person standard for the benefit of the incapacitated beneficiary. The bill specifies a means of monitoring and enforcing a custodial trust, the rights and liability of third persons, limitations of action against the custodial trustee and distribution of trust property on termination. 

SSB 5214

This bill creates the Mobile Market Program, which will provide increased nutrition access to the participants of the Women, Infants and Child Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, if federal funding is available. 

Mobile market programs operate by bringing refrigerated trucks of fruits and vegetables to food deserts across Washington state. 

SB 5391 

This bill amends the list of allowable uses for the Sustainable Farms and Field Grant Program funding to remove financial assistance for compost spreading equipment if a significant amount of the materials composted are not from a site owned or operated by the farmer. 

The bill also directs the program to prioritize or weight projects for funding by their ability to reduce or avoid carbon dioxide equivalent emissions through increased energy efficiency or reduced fuel use. 

The State Conservation Commission must evaluate and update the most appropriate carbon equivalency metric before implementing upfront payments for carbon storage. 

SSB 5221

This bill authorizes a county treasurer to waive personal property taxes, including taxes for a titled manufactured or mobile home, if the cost to collect and seize someone's property is more than the amount of tax to be collected. 

This bill also establishes a process for property owners whose property has been seized to apply for a refund of any proceeds from a property sale beyond what they owed in taxes. This used to be mandatory on the part of the county treasurer, but instead, the owner will now have to request a refund.

SSB 5239

This bill changes requirements for hospitals relating to retaining medical records. 

Hospitals were formerly required to retain medical records for different lengths of time depending on the age of the patient. The bill now requires hospitals to keep records for at least 26 years from the date the record was created.

ESSB 5480

This bill aims to remove barriers for consumers created by medical debt.

Hospitals, physician groups, professional partners and collection agencies are prohibited from reporting medical debt to credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus. Medical debt is exempt from being included on someone’s credit report.

Medica debt reported to credit agencies becomes void and unenforceable, with enforcement provided by the Consumer Protection Act.

HB 1698

This bill makes changes to current state law to clarify that all persons selling and serving alcohol for on-premise consumption at a licensed facility must maintain an alcohol server permit. 

The bill eliminates a special liquor permit and the public house liquor license. 

HB 1971

This bill aims to increase access to prescription hormone therapy to patients of all ages by requiring health plans to provide reimbursement for a 12-month refill of prescription hormone therapy obtained at one time by an enrollee. 

SHB 1244

For someone who has had their license suspended for 60 days after three or more moving violations within one year, or four or more moving violations in two years, they can have their suspension lifted early if they complete a safe driving course approved by the Department of Licensing. 

SB 5199

This bill allows members of the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Oversight Board who have direct lived experience to receive compensation and reimbursement for travel expenses associated with their service. 

SB 5494

This bill requires the Department of Commerce to administer and enforce a state Renovation, Repair and Painting Program. This program requires that for all renovation activities on pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities, renovators must be certified or trained by those who are. Renovation activities must also meet work practice standards established by Commerce. This bill brings the program into compliance with federal law to continue receiving federal funds. 

SB 5545

This bill changes some oversight related to family home providers that work around military bases and are already certified by the military. 

Family home providers that are already certified by the military will be exempt from child care licensing requirements by DCYF. DCYF will still maintain investigative authority for referrals of alleged child abuse or neglect occurring at these family home providers. 

SSB 5492

This bill requires the chair of the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority to appoint an eight-member advisory group composed of representatives from various sectors in the tourism industry. The group will give recommendations for a self-supported assessment on business sectors of the tourism industry by this November. The ultimate goal is to address a need to boost state tourism marketing efforts. 

SB 5036

This bill requires the Departments of Ecology and Commerce to annually report to the governor and Legislature the total emissions of greenhouse gases in Washington for the preceding year, beginning in 2026. The report was previously given every two years. 

HB 1422

This bill modifies multiple aspects of the drug takeback program. 

The annual operating fee that the Department of Health can charge a drug take-back program operator is modified, along with annual reporting requirements for program operators. In addition, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee will be required to conduct an expedited review of the DOH's fee-setting authority for the drug take-back program. 

SB 5351

This bill aims to ensure patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices. 

A carrier or limited health service contractor will be prohibited from denying coverage for procedures on the basis that they were performed on the same day. The bill also limits the circumstances in which dental claims may be paid with a credit card and requires a stakeholder forum to be convened and to discuss and make recommendations based on dental insurance issues. 

SB 5029

This bill makes several changes to the guidelines surrounding the transportation of individuals released or discharged from the custody of the Department of Corrections. 

A requirement that the public transportation provided by the Department of Corrections be the least expensive method, not to exceed $100, is removed. Public transportation must be limited to a location in the state, except in certain circumstances. The DOC will be required to make a reasonable effort to coordinate the timing of an individual's release from custody with a participating nonprofit organization that will support the individual's reentry into the community. 

SB 5419

This bill revises requirements for authorized insurers reporting fire losses, including those known or suspected due to criminal activity. Fire loss reports must be made directly to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner rather than the chief of the Washington State Patrol. This bill specifies requirements and restrictions regarding confidentiality and privilege of fire loss information and provides a public records exemption for fire loss information. Insurers will be provided with civil immunity for certain reports and cooperation. 

HB 1432

This bill improves access to mental health and substance use disorder services by updating Washington's mental health parity law and ensuring coverage of medically necessary care. This includes defining terms such as "medically necessary," modifying definitions and incorporating requirements set out in previous legislation into the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, alongside related agency guidance. Health carriers will also be required to provide "meaningful benefits" for mental health and substance use disorder conditions in every classification in which surgical or medical benefits are covered.

SB 5716

This bill adds the Washington State Ferries to a list of places where the misdemeanor crime of Unlawful Transit Conduct can occur. 

Unlawful Transit Conduct includes smoking outside designated areas, dumping hazardous substances, playing loud music, disturbing or harassing others, consuming alcohol, or many other behaviors inconsistent with the intended use and purpose of the transit facility, station, or vehicle. 

HB 1271

This bill allows the Chief of the Washington State Patrol to mobilize jurisdictions and request resources to prepare for an emergency or disaster situation or when an emergency or disaster is predicted to exceed local resource capabilities. 

HB 1576

This bill prohibits cities from designating a property as a historic landmark outside of a historic district if the property is less than 40 years old, or if the designation would restrict use of the property and the property is less than 125 years old, if the property owner has not given written consent to the designation. 

HB 1731

This bill creates alternative notification methods for museums and historical societies to notify owners of loaned or abandoned property. This bill also creates procedures to establish ownership of property with unknown or undocumented ownership. 

SB 5343

This bill expands the uses of the Northeast Washington Wolf-Livestock Account for wolf-livestock management and for grants to the sheriffs' offices of Stevens and Ferry counties to aid the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in the management of wolves. 

HB 1829

This bill makes modifications to procedures for certified and noncertified tribes under the Tribal Warrants Act. 

This bill allows non-tribal law enforcement agencies to enforce tribal warrants, which ensures Washington law enforcement agencies honor each other's warrants. This is the first bill of its kind in the nation. 

HB 1946

This bill modifies how tribal representatives are selected for local health boards and health districts. 

This bill requires local or district health boards to have tribal representation, chosen by either a federally recognized tribe or an urban Indian organization within their jurisdiction. 

SB 5628

This bill modifies some state standards related to lead in cookware. 

The maximum allowable amount of lead in cookware is increased to ten parts per million, up from five parts per million. The cookware subject to lead restrictions beginning Jan. 1, 2026, is limited to aluminum and brass cookware, components and utensils that are not completely encased in stainless steel. They do not apply to cookware with only an internal layer of aluminum or brass that is completely encased in stainless steel, or the body of electronic cooking devices with removable cooking containers. 

SB 5556

This bill modernizes the "Adopt-A-Highway" program to allow it to meet its original goals within the state's existing budget strain. 

This bill makes WSDOT's authorization to establish the Adopt-A-Highway Program and the requirement to recognize program participants with signs contingent on the availability of amounts appropriated for these purposes in the Omnibus Transportation Appropriations Act, effective July 1, 2026. 

The bill also requires WSDOT to submit annual reports about program participants, including which parts of which highways are adopted and whether the participant has met the contractual obligations during the last year. 

HB 1102

This bill increases support and services for veterans. 

The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) will be required to provide information about available benefits and services to recently discharged veterans. 

SB 5595

This bill allows cities to designate "shared streets" where pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic share a portion or all of the same street. 

On a "shared street," the maximum speed limit is set to 10 miles per hour. 

SB 5077

This bill directs the governor's office to decide, in consultation with the Secretary of State, as to whether state agencies that collect, possess and store personal information may implement an automatic voter registration process, or may implement automatic updates of voter registration. In both cases, implementation must substantially meet the DOL requirements for enhanced driver's licenses and enhanced identity cards.

Contingent on federal approval, the Health Benefit Exchange may transmit personal information to the Secretary of State for purposes of automatic voter registration. 

Pending the governor's approval, the Department of Corrections may provide voter registration applications, then tramsit that information to a county auditor, which will be classified as pending until such time that the person will be eligible to vote. 

SB 5079

This bill addresses the burden of unintentional overpayments to older adults and adults with disabilities served by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). 

DSHS will be allowed to waive collection of overpayments of the Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Assistance Program and to functionally disabled clients receiving services and supports through Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports and the Developmental Disability Administration waiver programs. 

HB 1498

This bill creates a Domestic Violence Co-Responder Grant Program by implementing an extra $100 fee on marriage licenses. 

The program will award matching grants to cities and counties to establish and operate domestic violence co-responder programs. Such programs use domestic violence victim advocates who are summoned by law enforcement to the scene of a domestic violence incident to provide whole family support, resource connection and care navigation for victims. 

HB 1811

This bill makes multiple modifications to enhance crisis response services through co-responders. 

Co-responders are now added to a list of first responders who may not be compelled to testify about their communications with recipients of peer support services. 

The University of Washington School of Social Work is directed to establish a program to administer a crisis responder training academy, which will provide a certification in best practices in crisis response, and cover topics such as safety and crisis de-escalation tactics, teamwork across disciplines, culturally responsive crisis care, suicide intervention, substance use disorder engagement and overdose response. 

Co-responders are also classified as "frontline employees" during public health emergencies to presume that an infectious or contagious disease was acquired during employment under the Workers' Compensation program. 

SB 5224

This bill requires a peace or reserve officer moving from one agency to another, or to a certified corrections officer position, to undergo a background check before beginning their new job. 

The bill also makes technical updates to existing Washington law and removes the Criminal Justice Training Center's ability to appoint railroad officers; however, the agency can still commission them. 

HB 1483

This bill establishes the Right to Repair Act, which requires original manufacturers of digital electronic products to make available to independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms, certain parts, tools and documentation for the diagnosis, maintenance or repair of digital electronic products. 

There are certain exceptions where parts, tools and documentation do not have to be made available. 

The Attorney General will be the enforcing agency for the Right to Repair Act. 

SB 5680

This bill establishes a right to repair for mobility devices. 

An equipment manufacturer must, on fair and reasonable terms, make available to any independent repair provider or owner the documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that are intended for use with the equipment. The original manufacturer must also provide any updates to those materials.

HB 1359

This bill establishes a task force to review and make recommended changes to laws related to criminal insanity and competency to stand trial. 

The task force will review existing law to identify barriers in administration, fairness, efficiency and public safety, consider terminology changes to improve clarity and reduce stigma, make recommendations to remove barriers to diversion programs, promote effective treatment and increase services that would facilitate safe hospital discharges. 

HB 1427

This bill makes multiple changes to state law governing certified peer support specialists, including directing the Health Care Authority to develop courses to supplement training related to domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The Authority will be required to contract with at least one external entity to develop ways to expand access to peer support services, and requires that the accessibility to peer services in a managed care organization's network be given significant weight in any procurement for Medicaid managed care services. 

HB 1515

This bill allows local jurisdictions to request expanded outdoor alcohol service for liquor licensees, like beer and wine restaurants, breweries, distilleries and snack bars, subject to requirements. Outdoor alcohol service requests may also be limited to a specific event on a publicly owned civic campus. 

HB 1848

This bill increases the portion of a traffic infraction fee that is deposited into the Traumatic Brain Injury Account from $5 to $10 per infraction. 

At least 30% of the annual expenditures from the account must be used exclusively for in-person support groups for individuals with a traumatic brain injury and their families, programs designed for social integration, peer-to-peer mentoring and equitable geographic access to programs. 

HB 1131

This bill makes changes to state law governing the Clemency and Pardons Board. 

The Board is directed to expedite review of a petitioner's application if they indicate an urgent need for a pardon or commutation, including a pending deportation order or proceeding. A person's immigration status does not impact their eligibility for a pardon, commutation, or restoration of their civil rights. 

The Board is expanded from five to ten members, to include: 

• A person from an underrepresented population with direct lived experience in the subject matter being addressed by the CPB; 
• A person with lived experience as an incarcerated individual, or has worked with the formerly incarcerated, or successfully community reentry; 
• A representative of a faith-based organization or church with interest or experience in community reentry; 
• A person with experience and interest in tribal affairs; 
• Two representatives of crime victims. 

Each petition for a pardon or commutation must be reviewed by a panel of five board members, selected at random. 

Any person granted conditional commutation by the governor must be supervised by the Department of Corrections if community custody is a condition of the commutation. 

SB 5388

This bill requires that substance use disorder treatment services be provided by individuals licensed by the state of Washington. 

The Department of Health and the Department of Corrections are required to jointly adopt standards by July 2026 for the provision of behavioral health to individuals in correctional facilities, and fully implement and conduct inspections of adherence to those standards by 2027. 

SB 5721

This bill creates a right to an appraisal in automobile insurance policies with first-party coverage for physical damage, which are issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2026. This will help resolve disputes between an insurer and the insured about the cash value of a damaged vehicle. 

This bill specifies requirements and procedures for the appraisal, including timeframes for involving appraisal, selecting appraisers and appointing umpires and determining the amount of loss. 

This bill specifies the bearing of appraisal costs but requires an insurer to reimburse the policyholder for appraisal costs under certain circumstances. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner is required to register competent and disinterested umpires and appoint such an umpire upon request. 

HB 1119

This bill modifies the manner in which supervision compliance credit is awarded. Individuals who are subject to a governor's conditional commutation or completing any sentencing alternative under the Sentencing Reform Act, instead of specified sentencing alternatives, are added to categories of individuals who do not qualify for supervision compliance credit.

SB 5219

This bill allows a person to participate in the partial confinement program up to the final 18 months of their sentence. This bill also expands eligibility and modifies requirements related to partial confinement programs. 

SB 5314

This bill makes various technical clarifications, corrections, and administrative changes to the Washington capital gains tax. 

HB 1842

House Bill 1842 allows local government entity authorities to become captive insurance companies, and for public utility districts to form, own, or use captive insurance companies. 

ESSHB 1174

This bill makes a series of revisions to Washington law governing the credentialing of court interpreters and how they're made available to those who need them. 

HB 1275

This bill requires the L&I to fulfill the workers' compensation obligations of any decertified self-insurance group or decertified municipal employer. It requires a decertified self-insurance group or decertified municipal employer to reimburse L&I for any payments made on its behalf.

SHB 1281

This bill makes technical corrections to numerous provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (Washington state law).

ESHB 1385

This bill directs the Washington State Patrol to execute the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact on behalf of the state to facilitate the authorized interstate exchange of criminal history information for noncriminal justice purposes.

EHB 1461

This bill revises the dollar thresholds for situations where public utility district sealed bid standards apply to joint operating agency contracts.

SHB 1606

This bill requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study on providing state employees with electronic access to peer-reviewed journals.

HB 1640 

This bill makes changes to state law regarding the medical licenses issued through multi-state compacts. 

ESHB 1688

This bill establishes statewide standards for installing and operating electric security alarm systems where local governments have not adopted alternative regulations.

SB 5262

This bill makes multiple updates to statutes administered by the insurance commissioner.

SB 5317

This bill exempts local governments providing certain services for projects under the jurisdiction of the Energy Facility Siting Evaluation Council from certain appeals.

HB 1488

This bill sets the maximum annual per-parcel rate for conservation district rates and charges to $25, to be adjusted every three years based on the consumer price index, and eliminates fee schedules based on population.

HB 1514

This bill brings thermal energy companies under the jurisdiction of the Utilities and Transportation Commission, with certain exemptions. Electric utilities will be able to provide discounted rates to companies operating thermal energy networks under certain conditions and with authorization from the UTC.

HB 1543

This bill aims to increase compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard with alternative metrics and extensions for reporting.

SB 5445

This bill makes multiple changes to encourage the development of distributed energy resources.

The bill exempts the development of certain solar energy generation projects from state environmental policy act review to speed up the process. The bill also exempts farmers from additional taxation when they use land for agriculture and solar energy generation.

SB 5365

This bill amends the definition of recreational facilities to include public libraries operating out of less than 50% of usable space within a community center.

SB 5509

This bill makes childcare centers an allowable, outright permitted use in all zones except industrial zones and open space zones. Cities may impose reasonable restrictions on these permits.

HB 1253

This bill expands the ability of consumer-owned utilities to enter into joint use agreements.

Cities, public utility districts and joint operating agencies may enter into the development, ownership and operation of electricity plants and transmission facilities with any person or entity, to include joint venture and limited liability company agreements.

HB 1258

This bill redistributes some excise tax collected on behalf of regional 911 communications systems to local municipalities if county-run 911 operators transfer calls to municipal operators. The tax will be distributed based on the allocation percentage that is used for the local sales and use tax for emergency communications systems and facilities. The revenue transfer from counties to cities will begin in 2026.

SB 5485

This bill extends a fee structure for livestock inspection through the Livestock Identification Program through 2030. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is required to submit a report annually on how to improve the program or modify the fees to cover the costs through 2030.

SB 5682

This bill extends the expiration date for the Washington Customized Employment Training Program business and occupation tax credit to July 1, 2031.

A report on the program required to be submitted by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has been modified.

SB 5435

This bill reorganizes the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act (PECBA), which is a piece of legislation that governs the bargaining of wages for employees of cities, counties and other political subdivisions in Washington state.

SB 5627

This bill modifies several requirements in the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act relating to notice before excavation, duties before and during excavation and duties when excavation causes damage to certain underground infrastructure.

The bill requires that a one-number locator service maintain a web-based platform providing the same services as the toll-free number, and amends civil and criminal penalties in the Damage Prevention Act.

HB 1264

This bill requires the Office of Financial Management to compare Washington State Ferry worker groups with specifically enumerated groups of employees when completing a salary survey for the use of collective bargaining negotiations.

HB 1733

This bill increases the reimbursement cap for moving and relocation expenses incurred by people affected by agency displacements. The Washington State Department of Transportation will be required to annually adjust the increased cap for inflation beginning on Aug. 1, 2025.

HB 1774

This bill allows the Washington State Department of Transportation to take into account social, environmental or economic benefits of a lease of property when the lessee will use the property for community purposes and is a public agency, special purpose district, community-based non-profit organization, federally recognized Indian tribe or state historical society.

SSB 5493

This bill requires hospitals to comply with federal hospital price transparency rules and submit data to the Department of Health.

SSB 5558

This bill extends the deadline for comprehensive plans from some counties and provides that certain requirements related to the Growth Management Act must be adopted by the time of the county or city’s next comprehensive plan update.

SSB 5655

This bill requires that when a child care center opens in an existing, mixed-use building, the child care center's capacity is only calculated based on the areas of the building that will be used for childcare.

SB 5656

This bill changes the basis of the inflation rate for certain aquatic land leases from the producer price index to the consumer price index.

SB 5696

This bill expands the allowable uses of revenue from the local mental health and chemical dependency sales tax to include the new construction of facilities for mental health treatment programs or services.

SB 5764

This bill repeals the expiration date for the expiration date for the Ambulance Transport Quality Assurance Fee Program.

HB 1270

This bill authorizes local governments that are operating deferred compensation programs to automatically enroll new employees, unless employees affirmatively choose not to participate.

HB 1389

This bill extends requirements related to reporting purchases of timber to the Department of Revenue.

ESHB 1522

This bill is intended to boost wildfire preparedness efforts by utility companies by adding more requirements for wildfire mitigation plans and more ability on the part of the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), which approves these plans, to provide feedback.

SSHB 1715

This bill directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to report to the Legislature on the costs of implementing the State Energy Performance Standard for state agencies, along with building-related information, by June 30, 2027.

SHB 1791

This bill aims to increase flexibility related to funding sources for public safety and homelessness housing facilities.

The bill repeals some restrictions on how REET (Real Estate Excise Tax) funding may be used, changes reporting requirements, funding limits, and tax exemptions for the sale of affordable housing units.

HB 1494

This bill makes various changes to the multifamily property tax exemption program.

SB 5102

This bill creates a new exemption to the Public Records Act, which exempts formulae and data that public risk pools use to calculate rates for pool member contributions or assessments. In addition, actuarial analyses and reports prepared by or for public risk pools are exempt from disclosure.

Exemptions to the Public Records Act are typically made when disclosing that information would produce private gain and public loss.

SSB 5165

This bill reserves a portion of crop damage funding for those in low-population counties.

SSB 5245

This bill authorizes the legislative authority in each county to administer the oath of office to state legislators. Previously, there was ambiguity as to whether county commissioners had the legal authority to do so, which this bill clears up.

ESSSB 5337

This bill creates a certification for memory care services in the state of Washington. Entities operating memory care facilities or units will need to become certified by the Department of Social and Health Services by meeting standards specific to the needs of residents with dementia regarding the physical building, staffing, policies and procedures, and resident care and environment.

SB 5473

This bill requires law enforcement officers to request grievance arbitration consistent with the procedures in their collective bargaining agreement and removes the prohibition on expiring more than three arbitrators' terms in the same year.

SB 5616

This bill changes the name of the "Washington Saves Administrative Treasury Trust Account" to the "Washington Saves Administrative Trust Account." This allows others to access funds besides the state treasurer.

SB 5669

This bill makes several changes to irrigation district elections.

Irrigation districts are now authorized to carry out elections by mail alone. There are also new requirements for electors and candidates.

This bill requires that certain districts provide qualified electors with election information and comply with specified election security measures annually. There will be criminal penalties for irrigation district election and election security violations.

HB 1628

This bill creates the Washington State Fire Policy Board. The board will advise the director of fire protection on recommendations for agency budget requests and strategies to enhance the safe and effective delivery of fire service training and resources.

The proposal intends to strengthen the State Fire Marshal's Office, which a workgroup concluded has been underfunded for the last 10 years. The state fire marshal is in charge of certification for professional firefighter qualifications, coordination of statewide fire and hazardous material training, and other licensing and certification standards for fire sprinklers, fireworks, safety inspections and coordination services, among other responsibilities.

SSB 5139

This bill increases the membership of the Statewide Reentry Council from 15 to 22 members and allows eligible members to receive compensation for Statewide Reentry Council activities.

HB 1372

This bill modifies multiple joint legislative audit and review committee studies.

SB 5455

This bill changes the requirements relating to the administration and funding of the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment.

HB 1813

This bill requires the Health Care Authority to adjust Medicaid rates to reflect increases and decreases in service facilities and capacity, requires the Authority's preparations for the procurement of Medicaid managed care contracts to consider methodologies for measuring network access and adequacy and contract amendments to reduce administrative burdens for health care workers, and requires the Authority to direct managed care organizations to establish, continue or expand delegation requirements with behavioral health administrative services organizations.

HB 1003

House Bill 1003 makes it easier for landlords to serve notice of unlawful detainer by mail.

SB 5691

This bill clarifies the Attorney General's statutory authority to enforce statutes related to the Continuing Care Retirement Communities under the Consumer Protection Act.

HB 1813

This bill directs the Health Care Authority to make a number of changes when adjusting Medicaid rates and procuring Medicaid services, when directing managed care organizations, and developing a statewide Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization.

HB 1329

This bill relates to wholesale power purchased by electric utilities under the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA).

The bill is described in a legislative summary as a "narrowly scoped amendment" to CETA that is intended to ensure compliance by utilities.

HB 1382

This bill modernizes the all-payers claims database by updating reporting requirements, data disclosure standards and lead organization requirements.

HB 1573

This bill revises the period in which the oath of office must be taken for elective offices of counties, cities, towns and special purpose districts.

The oath may now be taken any time between the date of the certification of the election and the day before the term of office begins.

HB 1633

This bill makes changes to how subcontractors may be added to public works projects and their licensing requirements.

HB 1651

This bill establishes and describes requirements for both a teacher residency and a teacher apprenticeship model of teacher preparation.

SB 5212

This bill makes changes to the filing of adjudication claims for precode uses of groundwater and surface water in the Water Resource Inventory Area 1 water rights adjudication.

HB 1409

This bill amends the carbon intensity reduction requirements for transportation fuels under the Clean Fuels Program (CFP).

Penalties and other enforcement powers specific to the CFP are established.

The Department of Ecology will be required to publish analyses and forecasts of CFP credit markets.

HB 1975

This bill amends the Climate Commitment Act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the Department of Ecology's authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions and providing for market dynamic analysis.

SB 5653

This bill adds lieutenants and captains to the list of Department of Fish and Wildlife officers who are eligible for interest arbitration under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act.

HB 1539

This bill establishes the Wildlife Mitigation and Resiliency Standards Work Group, which will be in charge of studying and making recommendations on the following:

• Development and alignment of wildfire property mitigation standards with nationally recognized, science-based standards
• Enhancing wildfire mitigation at the community level
• Sharing data between appropriate state agencies and the insurance industry regarding the successful implementation of wildfire mitigation efforts
• Improving transparency for consumers regarding wildfire hazard and risk
• Establishing a homeowner grant program for purposes such as retrofitting and evaluations, with framework recommendations for decreasing insurance nonrenewals

SB 5033

This bill requires the Department of Ecology to begin testing for PFAS chemicals in certain biosolids within the next few years. Ecology will analyze and provide a report to the legislature by July 1, 2029.

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials derived from processing domestic sewage in a treatment facility. These biosolids can be used as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.

SB 5319

This bill establishes surface mine reclamation permit fees.

SB 5334

This bill adds the Department of Natural Resources' civil enforcement decisions under RCW 76.04.205 to appeals that may be heard by the Pollution Control Hearings Board.

SB 5014

This bill subjects systems or parts of systems that are used in the conduct of elections to the secretary of state for approval prior to use. This bill also sets out security breach disclosure requirements and mandates cybersecurity measures to be implemented by each county auditor by July 1, 2027.

SB 5168

This bill eliminates the State Actuary Appointment Committee and moves its duties to the Pension Funding Council.

SB 5361

This bill delays the use of ASAM 4 criteria and treatment criteria for addictive, substance-related, and co-occurring conditions.

SB 5370

This bill allows port district commissioner terms to be increased from four to six years through a ballot proposition.

SB 5394

This bill allows the Department of Social and Health Services Developmental Disabilities Administration to provide limited case resource management services for clients on the No-Paid Services caseload.

SB 5393

This bill authorizes the closing of the Rainier school by June 30, 2027.

SB 5478

This bill permits the Public Employees' Benefits Board to study and, subject to available funding, offer additional insurance products as employee-paid, voluntary benefits.

SB 5516

This bill expands the property tax exemption for community centers to include surplus property and buildings of a nonprofit university acquired by a nonprofit organization.

SB 5769

This bill limits Transition to Kindergarten Program funding beginning in the 2025-2026 school year to the funded level in the Omnibus Appropriations Act.

SB 5786

This bill increases fees for specified liquor licenses, permits and endorsements.

SB 5790

This bill changes the index used for the annual cost-of-living adjustment for certain employees at community and technical colleges to the Implicit Price Deflator, from the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index.

SB 5662

This bill allows Spokane County to waive connection charges for developers building emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, or affordable housing.

HB 1392

This bill creates the Medicaid Access Program, creates a covered-lives assessment on Medicaid managed care organizations and health carriers and increases Medicaid professional services rates up to the equivalent Medicare rates.

HB 1837

This bill establishes target goals for the Washington State Department of Transportation for Amtrak Cascades service for the number of roundtrips per day, trip reliability and emissions reduction for trips between Portland and Vancouver, B.C.

HB 1902

This bill convenes a work group regarding streamlining of permitting for transportation projects.

HB 2047

This bill eliminates the Washington Employee Ownership program, which supports efforts of businesses considering a sale to an employee ownership structure, by 2030.

HB 2051

This bill removes multiple requirements related to hospital billing by the Health Care Authority.

SB 5138

This bill mandates that counties in which a convention or trade center is located must use their portion of revenues collected by the Public Facilities District for affordable housing and community-initiated equitable development, rather than only affordable housing.

"Community-initiated equitable development" means strategic, capacity-building and capital investments determined and directed by communities who have experienced significant historical and ongoing social and economic vulnerabilities with the purpose of offsetting disparities, preventing or reducing displacement, addressing marginalization, and improving access to opportunities, resources, and outcomes.

SB 5083

This bill requires hospitals participating in Medicaid programs to contract with the Public Employees Benefits Board and the School Employees Benefits Board and modifies reimbursements for inpatient and outpatient services at licensed, critical access, sole community and children's hospitals.

SB 5143

This bill revises and adds definitions and makes technical changes to the Ethics and Public Service Act. This is the first update since 1993.

SB 5357

This bill makes changes to the actuarial funding of state pension systems.

HB 1636 

This bill eliminates the per-transaction limit for wine and spirit sales by certain retailers to other liquor retailers.

EHB 1609 

This bill allows the Superintendent of Public Instruction to use a designee on the Board of Natural Resources.

SHB 1650

This bill adds small airports to the list of capital projects local governments may use real estate excise tax revenue for.

EHB 1705

This bill creates a work group to study and recommend strategies to recruit, train, and retain large animal veterinarians in Washington.

HB 1309

This bill establishes the Burrowing Shrimp Research Program to focus on addressing the impacts of burrowing shrimp on bottom culture shellfish farming.

HB 1327 

This bill makes adjustments to Washington state law governing horse racing, which includes removing an 11-race per day cap. For all the changes, visit the bill summary page here.

HB 1486

This bill adds a student member to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

SB 5021

This bill reduces the retention period for court exhibits from six to five years.

SHB 1935

This bill makes it so that building permits are not considered project permits for certain local government project review requirements. This is a "simple technical correction" to existing state law.

SHB 1967

This bill provides that, for pubic works design-build projects, a performance and payment bond is not required for the portion of the design-build contract that includes design services.

SB 5306

This bill allows members of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters Retirement System Plan 2 on authorized leaves of absence to purchase up to two years of service credit if the member retires, rather than returns to work.

SSB 5040

This bill expands interest arbitration rights to law enforcement officers of cities, towns and counties regardless of the employing local government's population size, as well as to municipal airport law enforcement officers.

SSB 5157

This bill authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to conduct certain direct sales of valuable materials, including large trees, on public lands for qualifying habitat restoration projects.

ESSB 5129

This bill relates to common interest communities and brings certain practices into compliance with the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act. The bill also revises some existing regulations and grants some new permissions.

SSB 5076

This bill establishes a limited-entry non-spot shrimp pot-Puget Sound commercial fishing license.

SSB 5074

This bill establishes standards, terms and processes for turf seed grass production and purchase contracts.

SSB 5265

This bill expands electrical inspector licensing requirements to include credit for experience gained in certain states besides Washington.

SB 5288

This bill repeals statutory provisions related to filling vacancies on boards of county commissioners.

SB 5414

This bill requires performance audits to include social equity impact analysis of programs or services. This bill extends the deadline for legislative bodies to hold public hearings on the findings of performance audits.

HB 1355

This bill increases the revenue-sharing percentages between a compacting tribe and the state of Washington when the tribe has completed a qualified capital investment.

HB 1261

This bill aims to provide tax relief for certain incidental uses on open space land.

Open space lands and farm and agricultural lands are subject to different taxes than other property.

The bill allows for certain agrotourism activities to take place on classified open space farm and agricultural land without removing their classification. The bill also reduces the classification removal penalty calculation for classified open space farm and agricultural land to four years of back taxes.

HB 1602

This bill authorizes domestic breweries and microbreweries to satisfy food-service requirements of two types of restaurant liquor licenses by subcontracting with one or more individual entities.

HB 1686

This bill requires the Department of Health to develop a plan and provide recommendations to the Legislature on how to create a complete and interactive registry of the health care landscape in Washington.

SB 5503

This bill makes changes to Public Employment Relations Commission procedures related to representation petitions, hearings and the merging of bargaining units under the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act.

Public employers are prohibited from requiring a worker to waive any federal or state statutory right to claim a condition of settling a grievance under a collective bargaining agreement.

SB 5568

This bill directs the Office of Financial Management to update the state health plan by developing a statewide health resources strategy.

SB 5579

This bill prohibits health carriers or health care providers from making public statements regarding a possible contract termination, except under certain circumstances.

SB 5651

This bill deals with exemptions from wage garnishment.

The bill increases the amount of personal property in financial accounts and securities that is automatically protected from execution, attachment and garnishment in nonbankruptcy proceedings for consumer debt.

Regular adjustments of exempt personal property amounts according to the consumer price index are required.

Automatic protections in nonbankruptcy proceedings are made permanent.

Alimony and spousal support money paid or owed to the debtor is exempt from execution, attachment and garnishment.

SB 5587

This bill requires the Washington Center for Real Estate Research to provide a biennial analysis of each county's progress in closing the gap between existing housing units and estimated housing needs.

The Public Works Board is directed to consider whether a project encourages infill development or an increase in affordable housing in counties identified as having a gap when prioritizing applications for grants and loans.

SB 5677

This bill removes reporting requirements for Associate Development Organizations concerning businesses that receive retention and expansion services, as well as businesses that receive recruitment, retention and expansion services located outside the boundaries of the largest city in the county.

For rural counties, a per-county base allocation is changed from "up to $40,000" to $40,000.

The matched allocation shall not include general fund monies appropriated by the state, but may include a combination of nonstate funds, cash, or in-kind contributions.

SB 5807

This bill eliminates the SmartHealth Program offered by the Public Employees' Benefits Board and the School Employees' Benefits Board.

HB 1154

This bill allows the Department of Ecology to participate in ensuring landfill compliance with state regulations and imposing civil fees if facilities are out of compliance. 

The Department of Ecology will have the authority to approve all permits for a landfill prior to issuance or renewal by a jurisdictional health department. Ecology may also suspend permits and impose fines for a solid waste handling facility that is operating in violation of solid waste management requirements. 

Prime Sponsor Rep. Davina Duerr testified that there are "quite a few landfills that are out of compliance" in Yakima, and have been for a long time because of a lack of ability to enforce the environmental regulations these landfills were breaking. The bill allows Ecology an enforcement mechanism that will compel the landfills to come into compliance with state laws. 

HB 1293

This bill raises the penalty for littering to a class 2 civil infraction, which has a base penalty of $125, in addition to a $93 base penalty for throwing or dropping material onto state highways, where relevant. 

This bill also delays a 4 mil increase in the allowable thickness of a reusable plastic carryout bag by retail establishments until January 1, 2028. Establishments that do offer for sale reusable plastic bags with a thickness of at least 4 mils will be required to collect a 4-cent penalty in addition to the 12-cent pass-through charge, which will be deposited into the Waste Reduction, Recycling and Litter Control Account. 

HB 1462

This bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons by transitioning to environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives. 

Between 2030 and 2033, global warming potential (GWP) limits for newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbons entering commerce in Washington will be phased in. The Department of Ecology is directed to establish a refrigerant transition task force to complete a study by 2027 addressing the transition to low-GWP refrigerants, and to adopt rules no earlier than 2028 to require low-GWP or ultra-GWP refrigerants. 

HB 1497

This bill establishes and amends various requirements and programs related to food waste and wasted food, organic materials management and solid waste.

HB 1670

This bill requires the Department of Ecology to make certain sewage spill information publicly available via a website.

SB 5284

This bill requires producers of packaging and paper products to take part in the state's Producer Responsibility Program. 

The Producer Responsibility Program requires producers to participate in the stewardship organization or program responsible for the collection, transport and end-of-life management of their products. 

So far these products include electronics, light bulbs that contain mercury, photovoltaic solar panels, pharmaceuticals, paint, batteries, and now paper and packaging products. 

Paper and packaging producers have until Jan. 1, 2026, to appoint a producer responsibility organization (PRO), which must register with the state Department of Ecology. One person, either from the material's manufacturer, brand licensee, brand owner, importer of record, distributor of the material in Washington or another person assigned contractual responsibility as a producer, will be defined as the producer responsible for participating in the PRO. 

By Sept. 1, 2026, the PRO must make a one-time payment to Ecology to cover program costs through June 30, 2027. Annual registration fees will be paid after. 

HB 1468

This bill makes multiple modifications to state accounts, and moves funds from some state accounts to others.

HB 1958

This bill allows for the issuance of up to $2.5 billion of bonds for the design, right-of-way and construction of the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Project. The bonds may be issued as either triplebacked, which means they would be backed by tolls first, then gas tax and vehicle fees, then the full faith credit of the state, or backed only by toll.

HB 2039

This bill postpones a requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services pass through all current child support to a family receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits, and disregards child support when determining eligibility for that program. 

HB 2040

The state was planning to cease recovering any excess funds dispersed by the Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash assistance program by Oct. 2025, but that deadline has been pushed back three years. This means any cash assistance paid by this program that is duplicated by Social Security benefits must be paid back to the state by recipients. 

ESHB 2049

This bill serves as the state's education budget. The maximum per-pupil limit used for school enrichment levies will be raised over several years to $5,035. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is also required to convene a K-12 funding equity workgroup to analyze options for revising K-12 funding formulas. 

SB 5431

This bill makes administrative and technical updates to the state tax code.