Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6100: Removing the sunset date for an employer's ability to correct wage and salary disclosures.

SB 6100 removes an expiration date (previously July 27, 2027) from a provision allowing employers with 15+ employees to correct wage and salary disclosure errors in job postings. Under this bill, employers can fix violations within five business days of written notice without facing penalties or damages, provided they also notify third-party job platforms. This change makes the correction process permanent, while keeping existing penalties, remedies, and the $100-$5,000 statutory damages for unresolved violations intact. The bill directly affects employers posting jobs and job applicants seeking enforcement of wage transparency rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6099: Providing basic taxpayer fairness by delaying department of revenue action with regard to tax changes until rule making is finalized.

SB 6099 delays the Department of Revenue's enforcement or collection of new tax liabilities resulting from recently passed tax laws. It requires the department to suspend these actions from the effective date of the tax change until the first day of the calendar quarter after finalizing related rules. This directly affects taxpayers who would otherwise face immediate tax bills under new laws before administrative rules are established. The bill aims to provide temporary relief by ensuring tax changes are fully implemented through finalized rules before enforcement begins. The legislation is currently in committee referral after its first reading.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2395: Authorizing additional use of certain private recreational docks and mooring buoys.

HB 2395 allows owners of private recreational docks and mooring buoys on state-owned aquatic lands to temporarily share them with other qualified recreational vessels. It specifically authorizes "recreational moorage sharing" for privately-owned docks, enabling nonresidential, noncommercial boats (like personally owned or club-affiliated vessels) to use these facilities. The bill amends existing law to clarify that this sharing does not constitute a commercial operation or residential use. It directly affects private dock owners and recreational boaters, without changing ownership, fees, or land use regulations. The bill is currently in committee referral after its first reading on January 13, 2026.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2407: Creating a wildfire mitigation grant program.

HB 2407 establishes the "Strengthen Washington Homes Program," a grant initiative to help homeowners, contractors, and nonprofits retrofit homes to meet wildfire preparedness standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The program provides financial grants for wildfire risk mitigation, requiring properties to achieve IBHS certification (like "Wildfire Prepared Home" status) and secure necessary permits before receiving funding. It also prohibits insurers from denying coverage based solely on wildfire risk if a property holds IBHS certification. The bill creates a dedicated program account for funding, funded by state appropriations and eligible grants, with implementation overseen by the Insurance Commissioner.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2404: Reducing taxes on special fuels.

HB 2404 reverses a planned tax increase on special fuels (like diesel) that was set to take effect July 1, 2025, by reducing the cumulative tax rate to match levels from July 1, 2016. It directly affects fuel licensees (gas stations and distributors) and businesses using diesel, such as freight haulers and food producers, by lowering their tax burden. The bill amends Washington’s tax code to eliminate the 2025 tax hike and prevent future increases, aiming to reduce fuel costs that impact food and goods prices. This change is intended to keep fuel purchases within Washington, potentially lowering costs for locally produced goods and improving economic competitiveness. The bill does not create new taxes but stops an existing planned increase.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6093: Enacting an excise tax on large operating companies on the amount of payroll expenses above the minimum wage threshold of the additional medicare tax to fund services to benefit Washingtonians and establishing the Well Washington fund account.

SB 6093 imposes a tax on large companies' payroll expenses above a threshold (based on the additional Medicare tax threshold) to create the Well Washington Fund. Starting July 1, 2027, 51% of the tax revenue will fund healthcare (including Medicaid), higher education, food assistance programs, and housing initiatives. The bill directly affects large Washington-based companies with significant payroll, while supporting residents relying on these public services. The fund will help offset state budget shortfalls caused by federal funding cuts, with revenues specifically designated for these programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6098: Concerning the annual reporting of information associated with sales of vehicles subject to the advanced clean trucks regulations.

SB 6098 requires Washington's joint legislative audit committee to annually report on sales and tax revenue related to vehicles covered by the state's advanced clean trucks regulations. The bill mandates specific data collection, including yearly sales comparisons, state/local tax collections from these vehicles, and analysis of price differences versus non-regulated vehicles. These reports, due by June 1 each year until 2035, aim to track economic impacts like tax revenue changes and consumer behavior while meeting environmental goals. The requirement applies directly to state agencies (audit committee, revenue, and licensing departments) and expires June 1, 2036.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6008: Incentivizing grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems.

SB 6008 establishes a state grant program to help low- and moderate-income households afford grid-connected home battery systems (minimum 5 kWh capacity). Electric utilities must apply to the Department of Commerce for grants to fund upfront payments for these systems, with at least 40% of funds reserved for low-income, moderate-income, or tribal households. The bill requires utilities to integrate these batteries into "flexible demand programs" that encourage shifting energy use to off-peak times or allow utilities to manage batteries collectively during grid events. This directly affects residential customers in qualifying income brackets and electric utilities operating under flexible demand programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2293: Prohibiting law enforcement training with certain foreign entities.

HB 2293 prohibits Washington state law enforcement agencies, including the Washington State Patrol and peace officer training commissions, from participating in or funding training, exchanges, or travel with foreign military forces, intelligence agencies, or security services. The bill directly affects all Washington law enforcement officers and agencies by banning partnerships, programs, or travel for foreign military/intelligence training. Key provisions require agencies to cease any existing arrangements and prevent future funding or facilitation of such international training activities. This policy change aims to restrict state law enforcement collaboration with foreign security entities, with no exemptions specified.

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 6088: Protecting the public from water quality impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms.

SB 6088 requires publicly owned game farms (like those operated by Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife) to obtain permits under the state's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) program, which they were previously exempt from. This applies specifically to facilities raising pheasants or similar game birds, now explicitly included in CAFO regulations. The bill mandates these public facilities to implement manure management plans with runoff controls, dead animal protocols, and groundwater monitoring to prevent nitrate pollution in drinking water wells. It directly affects state-run game farms by aligning their environmental regulations with private agricultural operations to protect public water quality.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2424: Exempting temporary staffing services from retail sales tax.

HB 2424 would exempt temporary staffing services from Washington's retail sales tax. The bill amends state tax code to specifically exclude temporary staffing services from the definition of "sale at retail," meaning businesses hiring temporary workers would no longer pay sales tax on these services. This directly affects temporary staffing companies and their business clients who purchase these services. The change would simplify tax obligations for these businesses by removing a tax previously applied to temporary staffing fees. The bill is currently in committee referral after its first reading.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2398: Establishing business and occupation and public utility tax credits for small business employers providing maritime trade educational assistance.

HB 2398 creates a tax credit for Washington small businesses (50 or fewer employees) that provide maritime trade educational assistance to employees working aboard or servicing U.S. flagged vessels. The credit covers 100% of eligible training costs - such as tuition, tools, and maritime certification programs - up to $20,000 per business annually, with unused credits carryable for five years. It applies to both business and occupation taxes (Chapter 82.04 RCW) and public utility taxes (Chapter 82.16 RCW), excluding overlapping credits. The credit expires for claiming on January 1, 2038, and the law ends January 1, 2039. Eligible employees must be enrolled in Washington maritime training programs supporting careers like commercial fishing, marine engineering, or vessel operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results