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Washington Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 16,751 Active 8,818 In committee 5,031 Passed 3,263 Signed 3,665 Failed 959

Bill results

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5005: Concerning transparency, public safety, and independent oversight of the city, county, and regional jail system in Washington state.

SB 5005 creates the Washington Jail Council within the governor’s office to improve transparency and safety in Washington state’s city, county, and regional jails. The council, composed of seven members including jail administrators, health providers, people with lived incarceration experience, and legal advocates, will monitor jail conditions, conduct annual surveys, and investigate systemic issues. It will collect data, handle public complaints, publish reports on jail operations, and recommend policy changes to promote humane conditions and reduce litigation risks. This bill directly affects all Washington jails, their staff, and incarcerated individuals by establishing a formal oversight body focused on evidence-based reforms.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates independent oversight council for jail transparency/safety, aligning with reform goals like monitoring conditions and handling complaints.90% confidence
Rebecca Saldaña (D) · 10 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1144: Adding an additional superior court judge in Skagit county.

HB 1144 increases the number of superior court judges in Skagit County from four to five by amending state law. This change directly affects Skagit County's judicial system, aiming to improve court capacity and reduce case backlogs. The bill includes a key provision requiring specific funding for this increase to be included in the 2025 omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2025, or the bill becomes void. If funded, it would allow Skagit County to hire an additional judge to handle its caseload.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires specific funding in 2025 budget to add judge, directly seeking to fund judicial capacity and reduce case backlogs as an essential public service.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds judge to reduce court backlog, directly improving judicial capacity and efficiency in criminal justice system per bill summary.90% confidence
Debra Lekanoff (D) · 4 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2079: Increasing alcohol taxes.

House Bill 2079 proposes to increase the tax rates on several types of alcoholic beverages sold in Washington state. Specifically, it doubles the additional tax on fortified wine from approximately 23 cents to 46.88 cents per liter and on other wines (excluding cider) from one cent to two cents per liter. The bill also significantly raises the additional tax on cider to $0.0563 per liter and doubles the additional tax on beer and strong beer from $2 to $4 per barrel. These tax adjustments primarily affect alcohol distributors, producers, and ultimately consumers, with most of the collected additional revenue directed to the state general fund.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases alcohol tax rates across multiple beverage types, directly raising state revenue through higher taxation, aligning with fiscal responsibility and budget funding.95% confidence
Lauren Davis (D) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1700: Concerning the timing of updates for comprehensive plans and development regulations.

HB 1700 grants Washington cities and counties a six-month extension to update their comprehensive land use plans and development regulations, addressing delays caused by staffing shortages and new requirements. It also creates an opt-out option for very small cities (under 500 people meeting specific population and location criteria) to conduct partial updates instead of full reviews, requiring them only to revise critical areas and transportation elements. The bill amends state law to adjust review timelines while maintaining core requirements for land use planning consistency. This affects all local governments responsible for zoning and growth management under Washington’s Growth Management Act.
Mike Volz (R) · 12 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5454: Extending the dairy inspection program until June 30, 2031.

SB 5454 extends Washington's existing dairy inspection program through June 30, 2031, by amending the assessment on milk processing. It requires milk processing plants to pay a fee of 54 cents per hundredweight of milk processed (exempting those paying under $20 monthly) to fund inspections ensuring compliance with national milk safety standards. The collected funds are deposited into a dedicated dairy inspection account within the state's agricultural fund, exclusively used for inspection services. This bill directly affects dairy processors in Washington by maintaining the current funding mechanism for program oversight.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes 54¢/cwt fee on dairy processors to fund milk safety inspections, directly allocating dedicated revenue for public service compliance within state budget.95% confidence
Mike Chapman (D) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5722: Creating a grant program to promote local workforce development, reduce transportation pollution, and strengthen food sovereignty and climate and disaster resiliency.

SB 5722 creates a state grant program for Washington farms growing handpicked specialty crops sold locally (within 250 miles), requiring farms to hire only domestic agricultural workers and be owned by state residents. Eligible farms can receive grants up to $40,000 - covering up to eight weeks of paid overtime during peak harvest - to support local hiring, reduce transportation-related pollution, and strengthen food sovereignty and climate resilience. The bill also establishes an Office of Agricultural and Seasonal Workforce Services within the Department of Agriculture to administer the grant program and handle foreign labor certifications. This program directly affects qualifying farms, with funding tied to specific local sales and worker hiring criteria.
Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReduces transportation pollution via local sourcing (250-mile limit), strengthens climate resilience through grants, and explicitly targets environmental benefits in summary.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires farms to hire only domestic workers, restricting immigrant access to agricultural employment opportunities.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides paid overtime during peak harvest (direct worker benefit) and requires local hiring, aligning with labor support indicators while focusing on workforce development.85% confidence
Rebecca Saldaña (D) · 5 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1378: Concerning penalties related to eluding police vehicles and resisting arrest.

HB 1378 in Washington state modifies penalties for attempting to elude police vehicles and resisting arrest. It allows law enforcement to impound vehicles used in a first offense and, for repeat offenders (if the operator had a prior vehicle impoundment for eluding), to seize and forfeit the vehicle after a conviction. The law requires law enforcement to notify owners and provide a hearing before forfeiture, with proceeds from selling forfeited vehicles funding traffic safety programs and enforcement related to eluding police. This applies directly to drivers convicted of repeated eluding offenses using a vehicle.
Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for eluding police via vehicle forfeiture, strengthening enforcement without reform elements or protections.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds traffic safety programs via vehicle forfeiture proceeds, directly enhancing transportation safety as per bill's funding allocation for traffic safety initiatives.90% confidence
Clyde Shavers (D) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1397: Imposing local property tax levies wholly credited against the state property tax to provide support and services for veterans' assistance and for persons with developmental disabilities or mental health needs.

HB 1397 requires Washington counties to levy a local property tax of 2.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (deducted from the county's state tax obligation) to fund community services for veterans and individuals with developmental disabilities or mental health needs. It also authorizes counties to levy an additional 1.8 to 27 cents per $1,000 for a dedicated veterans' assistance fund, which similarly reduces the county's state tax burden. These levies directly support existing state programs under RCW 71.24 (disability/mental health services) and RCW 73.08 (veterans' programs). The bill ensures counties do not pay extra costs for these levies, as they offset state tax collections, and specifies how levy amounts adjust based on county property tax changes.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds veterans and disability services through local property tax levies, reducing county state tax burden while supporting public programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly funds mental health services and developmental disability support via property tax levies, advancing access to healthcare for vulnerable populations as specified in the bill's purpose.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates county property tax levies specifically to fund veterans' assistance programs and services, directly advancing veteran support through dedicated funding.95% confidence
Ed Orcutt (R) · 4 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5495: Adjusting a limitation of liability in life insurance policies.

SB 5495 adjusts life insurance policy terms in Washington State. It shortens the suicide exclusion period from two years to one year for standard life insurance policies and removes most exceptions (like suicide) from credit life insurance policies after January 1, 2026, except for fraud. The bill also requires clearer disclosure of policy terms, including coverage details and premium costs, to borrowers at the time of debt issuance. These changes directly affect policyholders, insurers, and creditors who provide or use credit-related insurance. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, for all policies issued or renewed after that date.
Rebecca Saldaña (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5803: Regulating tobacco and nicotine products.

SB 5803 bans the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products (including menthol, candy, and fruit flavors) and entertainment vapor products with gaming features like video displays. It directly affects retailers selling these products and aims to reduce youth access, as 88% of youth vapers use flavored products. The bill increases taxes on all tobacco products and requires retailers to comply with new restrictions on flavored items. These changes are intended to curb youth initiation and addiction, based on data showing flavored products drive 80% of youth tobacco use.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases taxes on tobacco products, directly impacting state revenue generation and fiscal management under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence
T'wina Nobles (D) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5045: Expanding the state battery stewardship program to include electric vehicle batteries.

SB 5045 expands Washington’s existing battery stewardship program to include electric vehicle (EV) batteries, which were previously excluded from the recycling requirements. The bill amends key statutes to redefine "vehicle battery" to encompass EV batteries, requiring retailers selling new EV batteries to accept used ones for recycling at the point of sale - similar to current rules for lead-acid car batteries. This includes maintaining a mandatory core charge (minimum $5) for new purchases if used batteries aren’t returned. The change directly affects EV battery retailers and consumers purchasing new EV batteries, extending the state’s recycling framework to cover this growing battery type.
Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands EV battery recycling infrastructure, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence through sustainable EV lifecycle management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands battery recycling to include EV batteries, promoting proper disposal and reducing environmental harm from improper waste management, aligning with pollution control and resource conservation goals.92% confidence
Jeff Wilson (R) · 9 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1887: Creating a data broker registry for the purpose of imposing a data broker severance tax.

HB 1887 requires data brokers - businesses that collect, aggregate, and sell Washington residents' personal information without consent - to register annually with the Department of Licensing starting in 2026. It defines "brokered personal data" broadly (including names, addresses, biometric details, and social security numbers) and exempts consumer reporting agencies, financial institutions under federal law, and services providing public business info or health/safety alerts. Data brokers must submit basic contact details and pay an annual registration fee, with the revenue intended to fund state programs. The bill aims to create transparency about this industry while generating state revenue from a growing business model.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new data broker severance tax, creating direct revenue stream for state budget without targeting individuals.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates data brokers selling personal information without consent via registration and severance tax, directly strengthening data privacy protections as defined in the bill's scope.95% confidence
Shelley Kloba (D) · 3 co-sponsors
Showing 1,261 to 1,272 of 8,818 bills
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