Establishing the court unification task force.
HB 1909 establishes a court unification task force to study Washington’s fragmented court system. The task force will analyze disparities in local court rules, technology adoption, and funding that create barriers for people seeking legal help - especially those in rural areas, low-income communities, and underserved populations. It will identify inefficiencies and inequities in court operations and explore potential solutions through a diverse group including judges, court clerks, legal aid representatives, and community advocates with lived experience. The bill does not implement changes but directs the task force to provide recommendations for improving consistency and access to justice. This study aims to inform future policy decisions, not alter current court structures.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Signed Mar 24, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Second Substitute Bill
→
Second Substitute Passed Legislature
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill adds a formal certification of enrollment to the document and increases the number of judicial branch representatives on a task force from 12 to 14. It also updates the requirements for appointing these representatives to ensure geographic diversity by requiring at least one member from western and eastern Washington for specific associations, rather than exactly one. Additionally, the language regarding formerly incarcerated individuals was clarified to emphasize their lived experience.
TECHNICAL
Added a formal certification of enrollment page to confirm the bill was passed by both the House and Senate.
REQUIREMENT
Increased the number of judicial branch members on the task force from 12 to 14.
Changed appointment requirements for superior and district/municipal court judges to require 'at least one' member from western and eastern Washington instead of exactly one.
Updated the description for a formerly incarcerated appointee to explicitly state they must have 'lived experience' in that status.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 11, 2026
How they voted
32–18
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Mar 6, 2026
D
Democratic31
100% Yea
R
Republican20
90% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
19
Committee
15
Mar 24, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 3.
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments.
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (32-18-1)
senate
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Feb 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
lower
Feb 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
lower
1 primary · 29 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jamila Taylor
DDemocratic
Co
Adam Bernbaum
DDemocratic
Co
Adison Richards
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Ramel
DDemocratic
Co
Amy Walen
DDemocratic
Co
April Berg
DDemocratic
Co
Brianna Thomas
DDemocratic
Co
Cindy Ryu
DDemocratic
Co
Darya Farivar
DDemocratic
Co
Davina Duerr
DDemocratic
Co
Debra Entenman
DDemocratic
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