Washington Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2244: Adopting the recommendations of the public records exemptions accountability committee in its 2025 annual report.

HB 2244 adopts specific recommendations from Washington's Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee regarding confidentiality of certain sensitive records. The bill amends multiple statutes to keep details confidential in long-term care complaints, archaeological site locations, grand jury reports, traffic accident reports, and behavioral health statistics - requiring redaction of personal identifiers before public release. It directly affects state agencies (like the long-term care ombuds, coroners, and police departments) and limits public access to these records while maintaining some disclosure for law enforcement or legal purposes. The changes implement the committee's 2025 report findings to prevent misuse of sensitive information, such as avoiding site depredation or protecting individuals in investigations. This bill does not create new policies but formalizes existing exemption practices through statutory updates.

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6114: Defining the terms "fixture" and "affixed" for excise tax purposes.

SB 6114 clarifies the definitions of "fixture" and "affixed" for Washington state excise tax purposes. It defines a "fixture" as property permanently attached to real property that is necessary for the property's function, designed for it, or requires special equipment to move. This bill directly affects the Department of Revenue (which administers tax rules) and taxpayers who may dispute whether specific property (like appliances or systems) qualifies as a fixture for tax assessment. The changes aim to standardize tax administration without altering tax rates or creating new obligations.

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6009: Concerning direct review of administrative decisions by the court of appeals.

SB 6009 allows superior courts to directly transfer certain land use decisions to the Court of Appeals if all parties agree, without requiring a separate motion for discretionary review. This affects individuals or businesses challenging local land use decisions who would otherwise have to navigate the full superior court process first. Key provisions include requiring party consent for transfer, using the existing case record (not new evidence), and waiving attorney fee claims for the transfer phase (except if the case later reaches the Supreme Court). The bill repeals prior requirements that limited this transfer option, streamlining the review process for consenting parties.

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6031: Enhancing public safety and enforcement of crimes that impact insurance.

SB 6031 updates Washington state's insurance fraud laws to address modern schemes, including medical billing fraud using incorrect CPT/HCPCS codes. It expands the definition of "insurer" to cover more insurance types and defines specific fraud acts - like submitting false medical claims, misrepresenting services, or embezzling premiums - as a class B felony. The bill requires restitution for insurers and victims of fraud, clarifies where cases can be prosecuted, and targets organized fraud impacting both insurers and consumers. It directly affects insurers, health care providers (through medical coding rules), and insurance consumers by strengthening enforcement and penalties for fraudulent activities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5833: Allowing pets in unattended motor vehicles under certain circumstances.

This bill allows pet owners to leave pets unattended in vehicles for up to 30 minutes under specific safety conditions to protect against extreme heat or cold. It amends vehicle parking rules to permit the engine running (with doors locked, brake set, and wheels turned on hills) only when necessary for a pet's temperature safety. The law defines "pet" as domesticated dogs, cats, or other domesticated animals (excluding livestock). It directly affects pet owners who might need brief vehicle stops for their animals' well-being while driving. The policy change creates a clear exception to standard unattended vehicle rules, requiring specific safety measures to prevent harm.

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6013: Updating terminology related to ski areas and winter sports activities.

SB 6013 updates Washington's legal terminology for winter sports facilities by replacing outdated terms like "ski lift" and "rope tow" with modern equivalents such as "aerial lift" and "surface lift" throughout safety and operational rules. It directly affects ski area operators (requiring $1 million liability insurance) and skiers (updating safety rules like not throwing objects or crossing tracks improperly). Key provisions clarify safety responsibilities, including skiers' duty to control speed, avoid collisions, and follow posted instructions while using lifts. The bill standardizes language across state law to reflect current winter sports equipment and practices without changing underlying safety requirements.

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6297: Making temporary staffing services provided to nonprofit behavioral health entities exempt from retail sales tax.

SB 6297 exempts temporary staffing services purchased by nonprofit behavioral health entities from Washington state's retail sales tax. This directly affects nonprofits providing mental health, substance use, or similar behavioral health services that rely on temporary staff. The bill amends state tax law to exclude these specific staffing costs from taxable "retail sales," reducing operational costs for qualifying organizations. The change applies only to services used directly by the nonprofits in their behavioral health operations, not to general business expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2319: Renaming certain state residential facilities for persons with developmental disabilities.

HB 2319 renames three state facilities currently referred to as "schools" in statutes to "residential habilitation centers" to better reflect their actual purpose of providing habilitative support (like daily living skills training and medical services) rather than education. Specifically, Fircrest School, Rainier School, and Yakima Valley School become Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center, Rainier Residential Habilitation Center, and Yakima Valley Residential Habilitation Center, respectively, while Lakeland Village retains its existing name. The bill clarifies that these name changes are purely administrative - no services, operations, or funding access will be altered. It also updates related statutes to use the new facility names consistently across state law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6129: Concerning the taxation of cigarettes and other nicotine products.

SB 6129 expands Washington State's tobacco tax to include all nicotine products (excluding cigarettes and FDA-approved cessation products) by redefining "nicotine product" to cover any item containing nicotine or nicotine analogues, regardless of form. It introduces new categories like "flavored nicotine product" (defined by non-tobacco tastes/smells or cooling sensations) and creates specific tax rules for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The bill amends multiple tax statutes to apply these rules consistently across the supply chain, requiring businesses to pay tax based on the actual price of nicotine products sold. This directly affects businesses selling e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches, and other non-cigarette nicotine products within the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2464: Concerning reporting requirements and law enforcement responses for incidents at private detention facilities.

HB 2464 requires private detention facilities operating under government contracts to meet specific standards for food services, staff training, and infection control, while mandating timely reporting of serious incidents like abuse, death, or injuries to health and law enforcement. Facilities must provide balanced meals with dietary oversight, maintain safety protocols, and post clear policies on detained persons' rights. Starting November 2026, law enforcement agencies must annually report to the health department on how they responded to facility incidents, including whether victims received police reports or prosecutions occurred. The bill directly affects private detention facilities with government contracts, aiming to improve oversight and accountability in their operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6220: Ensuring nonprofit housing providers qualify for a property tax exemption when the property is temporarily used for certain community purposes other than affordable housing.

SB 6220 expands property tax exemption eligibility for nonprofit housing providers in Washington State. It allows these organizations to temporarily use their properties for certain community purposes (like events or gatherings) without losing their tax exemption, as long as the use doesn’t exceed 50 days per year and only 15 days are used for business promotion. The bill modifies tax code provisions to clarify that such temporary community uses - when not for profit and within specified limits - do not invalidate the exemption. This directly affects nonprofit housing providers seeking tax relief while hosting community activities beyond affordable housing operations. The bill is currently in committee review after its first reading.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5956: Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools.

SB 5956 prohibits Washington public schools from using artificial intelligence (AI) or surveillance technologies to make or solely determine student discipline decisions, such as suspensions or expulsions. It bans "risk scores" predicting student misconduct, biometric tracking for emotional/mental health analysis, and automated watchlists, requiring human review for any discipline action involving AI or surveillance data. The law directly affects all K-12 public school districts, charter schools, and tribal education programs in Washington, mandating updates to policies to prevent discriminatory impacts on students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students. It also restricts sharing student data with law enforcement except in emergencies involving imminent serious physical harm.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Technology