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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 · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 2482: Permitting retired members of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 to serve as chiefs of police in small police departments.

HB 2482 modifies Washington's retirement rules to allow retired law enforcement officers from Plan 2 (part of the law enforcement and firefighters' retirement system) to serve as police chiefs in towns or cities with fewer than 50,000 residents. Retirees in this position can choose to either rejoin Plan 2 (temporarily suspending their retirement benefits) or keep their benefits while forgoing new service credit. The bill specifically targets small departments, as the exception does not apply to larger cities. This change directly affects retired officers seeking leadership roles in smaller communities who previously could not hold such positions without losing retirement benefits.
Brian Burnett (R) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 2466: Creating the Washington state board of governors for licensed social workers.

HB 2466 creates a new Washington state Board of Governors specifically for licensed social workers, replacing their previous oversight under a broader health board. The board will consist of seven members (four licensed independent clinical social workers, two licensed advanced social workers, and one public member) appointed by the governor to provide specialized regulatory oversight focused on social work practice standards. This change aims to enhance public protection by addressing the unique educational, ethical, and practice needs of social workers, separate from other mental health professions. The bill establishes the board’s structure, membership requirements, meeting rules, and authority to adopt regulations governing licensed social workers across all practice levels in Washington.
Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates specialized regulatory oversight for social workers (critical to mental health services), enhancing public protection and practice standards per summary. Directly strengthens mental health care framework.90% confidence
Alicia Rule (D) · 2 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 14, 2026

HJM 4011: Asking Congress to call a limited convention, authorized under Article V of the United States Constitution, for the purpose of proposing a free and fair elections amendment to that Constitution.

Washington State's HJM 4011 is a joint memorial requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose an amendment addressing concerns about campaign finance influence, specifically following the *Citizens United* Supreme Court decision (2010), which removed limits on independent political spending. The memorial asks Congress to convene the convention once two-thirds of states have similarly applied, and specifies that Washington’s delegates should be selected from state/local officeholders (not current/federal officials). This is a procedural request, not a policy change, aimed at initiating a state-led effort to amend the Constitution.
Janice Zahn (D) · 5 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 2469: Establishing a task force to conduct a feasibility study to address the creation of a state-owned, public bank.

HB 2469 establishes a task force to study whether Washington should create a state-owned public bank modeled after North Dakota's bank. The task force, appointed by the state treasurer, includes representatives from community banks, credit unions, agriculture, mining, logging, transportation, and commercial construction industries. It will examine legal barriers, potential benefits like funding infrastructure and disaster supplies, capital needs, and governance over one year, with a report due to the legislature by December 2026. The bill does not create the bank but seeks to determine its feasibility as a potential tool for state economic development.
Rob Chase (R) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6133: Concerning participation in the address confidentiality program by administrative law judges and staff employed by the office of administrative hearings.

SB 6133 expands Washington State's Address Confidentiality Program to include administrative law judges and staff employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings. This bill amends state law to allow these workers to apply for the program if they face threats or harassment, joining existing categories like domestic violence survivors and election officials. Eligible applicants must provide sworn statements about safety concerns and designate the Secretary of State as their agent for mail and legal service. The program protects their actual address by using a confidential mailing address for official purposes, with the Secretary of State forwarding mail and updating vehicle registration records.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands address confidentiality to protect administrative law judges/staff from threats, ensuring safety within court operations central to criminal justice system functioning.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands address confidentiality protections for administrative law judges/staff facing threats, enhancing workplace safety and worker protection within Labor & Employment framework.92% confidence
Yasmin Trudeau (D) · 2 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6127: Requiring a performance audit of program integrity measures in Washington's paid family and medical leave program.

SB 6127 requires Washington's state auditor to conduct a performance audit of fraud protections, eligibility verification, and claim recovery processes in the state's paid family and medical leave program. The audit will evaluate how effectively the program prevents fraud, verifies claim eligibility, recovers improper payments, and communicates claim details to employers and employees. It mandates specific recommendations for improving these processes and requires progress reports by December 2026 and a final report by December 2027, with the requirement expiring December 31, 2027. This bill directly affects workers using the program and employers receiving claim information.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates audit to prevent fraud and improve fiscal management in state program, promoting fiscal responsibility.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates audit to strengthen fraud prevention and claim integrity in paid family/medical leave program, protecting worker benefits and program effectiveness.95% confidence
John Braun (R) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6120: Regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use.

SB 6120 regulates high-risk artificial intelligence systems in Washington State, directly affecting developers and deployers (businesses earning over $100,000 annually) that use AI to make consequential decisions like parole, employment, housing, or loans. The bill requires these entities to prevent "algorithmic discrimination" (unfair bias based on protected characteristics) and mandates risk assessments before deployment. Key provisions include defining "high-risk AI" as systems autonomously making significant life-impacting decisions, excluding common tools like spam filters or calculators, and requiring developers to address new discrimination risks from system modifications. The law aims to ensure AI systems used in critical areas operate fairly and transparently.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates prevention of algorithmic discrimination in AI systems used for parole decisions (a criminal justice function), directly supporting fairness and civil rights in sentencing/corrections.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates preventing algorithmic discrimination in housing decisions, directly protecting against housing discrimination and strengthening tenant protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates prevention of algorithmic discrimination in AI-driven employment decisions, directly protecting workers from biased hiring practices per its requirement for risk assessments before deployment.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates high-risk AI to prevent algorithmic discrimination and mandates risk assessments, aligning with consumer protection in tech regulation.90% confidence
Lisa Wellman (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6121: Providing electricity service to large energy use facilities.

SB 6121 requires utilities to develop separate tariffs for large energy use facilities (defined as those using 20 megawatts or more) by June 2027. These tariffs will ensure such facilities bear the full costs and risks of new infrastructure investments they necessitate, rather than passing them to residential, small commercial, or existing industrial customers. The bill directly affects large energy users like data centers and industrial facilities by changing how they pay for electricity service. This policy change aims to prevent unwarranted rate increases for other ratepayers while clarifying cost responsibility for infrastructure needs driven by large consumers.
Matt Boehnke (R)
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6141: Temporarily limiting the annual adjustment to the maximum weekly benefit amount for paid family and medical leave.

SB 6141 temporarily freezes the maximum weekly benefit amount for Washington's paid family and medical leave program at the 2025 level for 2027 benefits. This means the cap will not increase automatically on January 1, 2027, as it would have under the existing law, keeping the maximum at $1,000 per week for that year. The bill directly affects workers who use the state's paid leave program, preventing an annual adjustment that would otherwise raise the benefit cap based on state wage averages.
Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill freezes maximum weekly medical leave benefit at $1,000, preventing automatic increase that would have raised cap, directly limiting benefit amount for workers using the program.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentFreezes benefit cap at $1,000/week instead of automatic increase, restricting higher payments for workers using paid leave program.90% confidence
Curtis King (R)
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6144: Improving safety at state juvenile rehabilitation institutions.

SB 6144 amends Washington state law to expand opportunities for clearing certain criminal conviction records, particularly for victims of trafficking or violence. It modifies RCW 9.94A.640 to allow victims of sex trafficking, sexual assault, or domestic violence to petition courts to vacate class B or C felony convictions using a streamlined process. The bill repeals outdated provisions (RCW 9.94A.646 and 13.40.043) related to juvenile prison riot offenses, which previously allowed record clearance for those convicted in juvenile facilities. This legislation focuses on legal record relief rather than facility safety improvements, as implied by its title.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables victims of trafficking/violence to clear felony convictions via streamlined process, directly advancing criminal justice reform by removing barriers and protecting civil rights.95% confidence
John Braun (R) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6145: Concerning the possession of contraband at any correctional facility or institution by an employee.

SB 6145 requires immediate suspension and termination of state and contractor employees at correctional facilities who possess contraband (such as weapons, drugs, or security-threatening items) on facility premises. Employees found guilty of contraband possession through evidence-based review or related criminal convictions must be terminated, and contractors must remove such employees from facility-access roles. Contractors must also demonstrate improved hiring, training, and monitoring practices to renew contracts, with the department requiring proof of progress before approval. The bill allows public disclosure of terminated employees or contracts, protecting officials from liability for releasing relevant information.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens correctional facility security by mandating termination for employee contraband possession, enhancing institutional safety and accountability within the criminal justice system.85% confidence
John Braun (R)
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6126: Strengthening transparency measures to prevent the fraudulent, wasteful, or improper use of state resources.

SB 6126 requires Washington state agencies to adopt standardized contract management policies, including performance metrics, electronic signatures, and clear procedures for contract termination. It prohibits contractors from charging extra for data access, mandating direct data sharing with state auditors for all contract-generated information. The bill clarifies "improper governmental action" to include gross waste of funds, violations of law (non-technical), dangers to public health/safety, and gross mismanagement. These changes aim to increase transparency and prevent misuse of state resources by holding contractors and agencies accountable.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents gross waste of funds through transparent contract management, promoting fiscal responsibility per bill's clarification of 'improper governmental action'.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates direct data sharing with auditors and prohibits extra charges for data access, enhancing transparency and preventing misuse of state data.85% confidence
Chris Gildon (R) · 2 co-sponsors
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