SB 5127 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Creating additional requirements for collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates to improve compliance and public safety.

SB 5127 modifies the requirements for collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates in Washington state. It redefines a "horseless carriage" to apply only to vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1916. For "collector vehicle" plates, effective January 15, 2026, applicants must provide proof of ownership for a separate daily-use vehicle and proof of liability insurance for the collector vehicle itself. This bill ensures that collector vehicles and horseless carriages comply with general financial responsibility requirements.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 2, 2025 Signed May 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and passed by the legislature, adding a new section to amend RCW 46.16A.070 regarding registration cancellations and appeals. This amendment clarifies the process for appealing registration refusals and establishes a mechanism to cancel collector vehicle registrations if owners fail to respond to insurance inquiries within 45 days. Additionally, the requirement for collector vehicle owners to provide proof of a second daily-use vehicle was retained, while the insurance requirement was slightly broadened to accept general liability policies alongside specific collector policies.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include amendments to RCW 46.16A.070, which governs general registration procedures and appeals, in addition to the existing amendments for collector vehicle plates.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section (Sec. 5) that allows the Department of Licensing to cancel a collector vehicle registration if the owner fails to respond to a request for insurance information within 45 days.

Modified the insurance requirement for collector vehicles to accept either a specific collector vehicle insurance policy or a standard vehicle liability insurance policy, rather than requiring only the former.

ENFORCEMENT

Amended the appeals process for registration cancellations to specify that appeals must be filed in superior court within 10 days of receiving notice.

TIMELINE

Confirmed the effective date for the act's provisions is January 15, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025 · House Apr 15, 2025

How they voted

35–15

Passed

Total votes 50

Apr 22, 2025

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

5 Yea 15 Nay

75% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 17, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 33; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

lower

Apr 15, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (77-22-1)

house

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

TR - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors