Concerning scissor stair regulations in the state building code.
HB 2228 requires Washington's state building code council to form a technical advisory group to recommend changes allowing "scissor stairs" (interlocking stairways with separate exits) in multi-unit residential buildings with more than two permanent dwelling units. The group must consider public safety, health, and construction costs in its recommendations, which must be ready for the 2027 building code update. This bill directly affects builders and developers of apartment-style housing, aiming to potentially simplify stairwell designs in such buildings. The advisory process expires on January 1, 2031, with no immediate code changes enacted.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Dec 31, 2025
Signed Mar 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute Bill
→
Substitute Passed Legislature
·
2 edits
MINOR
The document was updated from a draft version to the final certified version of the bill after it passed both the House and Senate. This change adds official certification details, including the specific dates of passage, the vote counts, and signatures from the legislative leaders, confirming the bill is now law.
TECHNICAL
Added certification header, passage dates, vote counts, and signatures to officially certify the bill as passed by the legislature.
Removed the draft bill number (H-3079.2) and replaced it with the final certified title and legislative session details.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House Feb 10, 2026
How they voted
50–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Feb 26, 2026
D
Democratic31
96% Yea
R
Republican20
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
25
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Mar 9, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Feb 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Feb 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0-1)
senate
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
HSG - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 10, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (97-0-3)
house
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
lower
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Janice Zahn
DDemocratic
Co
Adam Bernbaum
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Ramel
DDemocratic
Co
Brianna Thomas
DDemocratic
Co
Davina Duerr
DDemocratic
Co
Debra Lekanoff
DDemocratic
Co
Julia Reed
DDemocratic
Co
Lisa Parshley
DDemocratic
Co
Mia Gregerson
DDemocratic
Co
Natasha Hill
DDemocratic
Co
Strom Peterson
DDemocratic
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