Addressing vehicle loads on public highways.
HB 2109 requires vehicles transporting loose materials (like dirt, sand, or gravel) on Washington public highways to securely cover loads or maintain six inches of space above the load to prevent spillage. It mandates immediate cleanup of spilled materials, glass, or debris that could endanger other drivers, and requires vehicles with mud or debris to be cleaned before traveling. Violations range from infractions for minor failures to gross misdemeanors if negligence causes bodily harm. The law applies directly to commercial drivers and anyone transporting such materials, with penalties defined by the severity of the hazard created. It exempts public maintenance vehicles from sand-spreading for traction or highway cleaning.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 8, 2025
Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill
→
Substitute Bill
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from H-2444.1 to H-2991.1 and updated its procedural history to reflect sponsorship by the House Transportation committee and a new reading date. The primary substantive change adds a specific requirement for vehicles being towed on trailers to clean off mud, rocks, or debris before towing or cover them while being towed, separating this rule from the general cleaning requirement for vehicles operating on their own.
Scope change
The scope of the cleaning requirement now explicitly includes vehicles being towed on trailers, whereas the previous version only mentioned covered vehicles being towed.
REQUIREMENT
The requirement to clean mud, rocks, or debris from a vehicle before driving on a paved highway was split into two distinct rules: one for vehicles operating independently and a new rule for vehicles being towed on a trailer.
A new provision mandates that vehicles being towed on a trailer must either be cleaned of debris before towing or covered while being towed to prevent hazards.
TECHNICAL
The bill number was changed from H-2444.1 to H-2991.1 and the procedural header was updated to indicate House Transportation sponsorship and a new reading date.
Floor votes · House Feb 10, 2026
How they voted
97–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 100
Feb 10, 2026
D
Democratic61
96% Yea
R
Republican39
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
TRAN - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 2:30 PM.
upper
Feb 10, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (97-0-3)
house
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Tom Dent
RRepublican
Co
Adam Bernbaum
DDemocratic
Co
Shelley Kloba
DDemocratic
Co
Tarra Simmons
DDemocratic
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