HB 2157 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use.

Washington State's HB 2157 regulates high-risk artificial intelligence systems that make consequential decisions affecting major life areas like housing, employment, healthcare, loans, and education. It applies to developers (with over $100,000 annual revenue) and deployers operating in Washington who use AI systems for these decisions. The law prohibits algorithmic discrimination - unlawful bias based on protected characteristics - and requires systems to be designed and tested to prevent such outcomes, while excluding research activities and certain facial recognition uses.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 16, 2025 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to reflect its progression from a House Bill to a Substitute Bill, which involved updating the bill number, sponsor attribution, and reading date. Substantively, the definitions of protected classes were expanded to include 'honorably discharged veteran or military status,' 'citizen or immigration status,' and 'creed,' while the reading date was moved forward from January 12 to January 30, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope of applicability was broadened by adding 'citizen or immigration status' and 'creed' to the list of protected classifications against algorithmic discrimination, and by adding 'honorably discharged veteran or military status' alongside 'veteran status.' The timeline for the bill's legislative process was updated to reflect an earlier first reading.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'algorithmic discrimination' to explicitly include 'honorably discharged veteran or military status,' 'citizen or immigration status,' and 'creed' as protected characteristics.

TIMELINE

Updated the legislative history to show the bill was read for the first time on 01/30/26 instead of 01/12/26.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill identifier from 'H-2556.1' to 'H-3234.1' and updated the sponsor attribution to reflect the committee referral.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 8:00 AM.

lower

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors