SB 5238 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Addressing reckless driving in cases involving excessive speed.

This bill expands the definition of reckless driving in Washington state to include intentionally driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. This change means that drivers found guilty of this specific act would face the existing penalties for reckless driving. These penalties include a gross misdemeanor charge, potential imprisonment for up to 364 days, fines up to $5,000, and a license suspension of at least 30 days. The new provisions are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered to reflect its status as a substitute bill and updated to show it was read by the Senate Law & Justice committee. The act's title was expanded to explicitly include the provision for an effective date. A new section was added to set the law's effective date as September 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding reckless driving penalties and ignition interlock requirements remains unchanged; only the procedural metadata and effective date were modified.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from S-0534.2 to S-1085.1 to reflect its status as a substitute bill.

The bill's title was updated to include 'providing an effective date' to match the new content.

TIMELINE

The date the bill was first read by the committee was updated from January 14, 2025, to February 3, 2025.

A new section was added to establish that the act takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

49–2

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 12, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1 Nay

96% Yea

R Republican20

19 Yea 1 Nay

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (49-2)

senate

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors