Creating an artificial intelligence grant program.
House Bill 1833 establishes the Spark Act Grant Program in Washington state, designed to support startups, research institutions, and companies developing innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The Department of Commerce will administer these grants, which will be funded through a dedicated account receiving legislative appropriations, private donations, and federal funds. Grants will be awarded annually, prioritizing applicants committed to ethical AI use, risk analysis, small businesses, and projects with statewide impact such as wildfire tracking, cybersecurity, or healthcare advancements. Eligible applicants must propose technology that will be shared with and provide a benefit to the state, with the program's progress and impact reported biennially.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Bill
→
Substitute Bill
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from House Bill to Substitute House Bill and transferred to the House Appropriations Committee. The reading date was updated to February 28, 2025. A new section was added to make the entire act null and void if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2025, introducing a strict deadline for the program's existence.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on creating an artificial intelligence grant program, but the applicability is now conditional on receiving specific funding by a set date.
TIMELINE
The reading date was changed from February 4, 2025, to February 28, 2025.
FISCAL
A new provision states that if specific funding is not included in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2025, the entire act becomes null and void.
SCOPE
The bill was reclassified from 'House Bill' to 'Substitute House Bill' and the sponsoring committee was updated to House Appropriations.
Floor votes · House Feb 17, 2026
How they voted
98–1
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 100
Feb 17, 2026
D
Democratic61
96% Yea
R
Republican39
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
34
Key actions
13
Committee
17
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 2:30 PM.
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
ENET - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 17, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (98-1-1)
house
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
lower
Apr 1, 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 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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