Concerning litter.
HB 1293 aims to reduce litter and plastic waste across Washington State, affecting individuals and retail establishments. The bill enhances penalties for littering, reclassifying offenses and establishing mandatory clean-up restitution payments based on the volume of litter. It also delays the requirement for reusable plastic carryout bags to be thicker and increases the pass-through charge for these bags. Furthermore, the bill imposes a new penalty on retailers for selling thicker plastic bags, directing these funds to a waste reduction and litter control account.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025
Signed May 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed Substitute Bill
→
Substitute Passed Legislature
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify its intent to discourage littering and plastic waste by enhancing penalties and creating a new section. Key changes include delaying the ban on thin plastic bags from 2026 to 2028, adding a new four-cent penalty for selling thick reusable bags starting in 2026, and adjusting the timeline for fee assessments to 2027.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by adding a new section that establishes a specific penalty for the sale of thick reusable plastic bags, in addition to existing littering penalties and bag fee requirements.
REQUIREMENT
Added a new requirement for retail establishments to collect a four-cent penalty on reusable carryout bags made of film plastic with a thickness of four mils or greater, effective January 1, 2026.
TIMELINE
Delayed the effective date for the ban on thin reusable plastic bags from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028.
Extended the deadline for the legislature to reassess pass-through charges from the 2025 session to the 2026 session.
FISCAL
Clarified that the new four-cent penalty on thick bags must be deposited into the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account.
ENFORCEMENT
Added a legislative finding that penalties and fees are effective deterrents to littering and harmful behaviors.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 26, 2025 · House Mar 6, 2025
How they voted
29–20
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Apr 26, 2025
D
Democratic30
93% Yea
R
Republican20
90% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
50
Key actions
26
Committee
23
Amendments
2
May 17, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
lower
Apr 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments.
lower
Apr 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Apr 26, 2025
Introduced
Senate receded from amendments.
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Introduced
House refuses to concur in Senate amendments. Asks Senate to recede from amendments.
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Environment, Energy & Technology.
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Apr 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 12:00 PM.
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
ENET - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
ENVI - Majority; do pass.
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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