SB 5996 freezes commercial shellfish fees at 2025 levels through June 2027. It prohibits the state department from raising fees for six specific licenses and services: commercial shellfish harvest, shellstock shipping, shucker-packer plants, export certificates, biotoxin testing, and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) monitoring. The bill also bans any new fees for shellfish harvesters, shippers, and processing plants during this period. This directly affects commercial shellfish operators in Washington state by preventing cost increases on their required licensing and testing fees. The legislation aims to provide fee stability for the shellfish industry through 2027.
HB 2252 requires the state division of archives to create a preservation plan for historical records from Lakeland Village, a former state facility for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The plan must catalog and protect at-risk documents (like medical records, letters, and photos), assess their condition, outline storage/digitization steps, and include public access provisions. It mandates the plan be submitted to the legislature by September 2025 and prohibits destroying these records until 2030. The bill directly affects state agencies (archives, social services, archaeology departments) and the University of Washington, which will collaborate on the preservation work.
HB 2392 requires building and construction contractors working at specific hazardous facilities - including pulp mills, power plants, and nuclear facilities - to use a "skilled and trained workforce" for all on-site construction work in apprenticeable trades. This means contractors must ensure their on-site workers are either registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons (with at least 30% of journeypersons being apprenticeship graduates by 2027, rising to 60% by 2028) and have completed 20 hours of approved safety training within the prior three years. The law applies to contracts awarded on or after January 1, 2027, with limited exemptions for owner-employees, temporary workforce shortages, and emergencies. It directly affects contractors performing work at covered facilities, aiming to standardize workforce qualifications and safety training for high-risk environments.
SB 6040 amends Washington State's lottery rules to permit electronic submission of nonwinning lottery tickets for second chance drawings, which are promotional entries offering additional prize opportunities. This change allows players to submit entries online instead of through physical methods, making participation more accessible. The Washington State Lottery Commission must now adopt rules explicitly including electronic processing for these entries. The bill does not alter standard lottery game rules but specifically updates procedures for promotional entries.
HB 2258 allows Washington cities and counties to impose a monthly household fee of up to $2.50 per dwelling unit to fund animal control and shelter systems. It directly affects local governments (which can adopt the tax via ordinance) and residents (who pay the fee), while requiring voter approval for new taxes or rate changes. The bill specifies that revenue must cover operation, maintenance, and capital needs of animal control systems owned or contracted by local entities, with annual rate increases capped at 2% or the inflation rate. It includes detailed procedures for voter referendums and defines key terms like "dwelling unit" and "parcel." The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 2226 updates rules for governing boards of Washington's public transportation benefit areas to ensure fairer representation. It requires proportional representation based on population for cities and unincorporated areas within the transit district, limits board sizes (11 members for single-county areas, 17 for multi-county), and mandates two new "transit-using" voting members who must regularly rely on public transit or represent transit users. The bill also requires meetings to be accessible by transit and provides specific training for these members on open-government laws. These changes directly affect regional transit authorities and their governing boards, aiming to better align board composition with community needs.
HB 2268 requires mortgage servicers to pay borrowers at least 2% simple annual interest on funds held in escrow accounts for residential mortgages (covering one- to four-unit homes) starting January 1, 2027. It prohibits servicers from charging fees that would reduce the effective interest rate below 2%. The law applies only to new mortgages executed on or after the effective date, directly affecting borrowers who maintain escrow accounts and the servicers managing those accounts. This policy change mandates a minimum return on escrow funds, shifting a financial benefit from servicers to borrowers.
HB 2270 allows small Washington cities (population under 5,000) to use up to 15% of their prior year's lodging tax revenue for infrastructure, secondary roads, recreational facilities, and tourist law enforcement - previously restricted to tourism promotion or facilities. Cities must hold public hearings, publish notices in local media, and seek community input before shifting funds. The bill amends existing law to create this flexibility while maintaining tourism funding as the primary requirement for lodging tax revenues.
SB 6055 establishes a centralized, automated background check system for firearm sales in Washington, requiring all dealers to use a new web portal to check applicants against state and federal databases (including court records and crime databases). The bill mandates a $18 maximum fee per background check (excluding pawn transactions), creates a process for applicants to appeal denied checks, and requires the Washington State Patrol to provide instant results and track system performance. Dealers must transition to this system within 30 days of notification, and the program must link to court records for eligibility verification. The law aims to streamline checks while ensuring data security and confidentiality of records.
HB 2391 amends Washington's public records law to restrict how agencies disclose lists of individuals. It prohibits state and local agencies from providing personal contact lists for commercial, solicitation, or fundraising purposes, unless the request is from a recognized professional association or educational organization for licensed professionals (e.g., medical or legal licensees) who pay a reasonable fee. The bill requires agencies to refuse such requests by default, with exceptions only for professional licensing data and after verifying an organization's recognition status. This directly affects anyone seeking personal contact information from government records, ensuring greater privacy protections for individuals' data.
HB 2335 would repeal tax increases on businesses enacted in 2025, specifically targeting provisions from 2025 Chapter 420. It removes a surcharge on businesses with over $250 million in taxable income (RCW 82.04.288) and eliminates an "Advanced Computing Surcharge," along with 13 other tax provisions from the 2025 law. These changes would directly affect high-grossing businesses and financial institutions subject to the repealed tax rates. The bill takes effect April 1, 2026, reversing specific tax increases implemented by the 2025 legislature.
SB 5964 creates a new state office for a senior independent living ombuds to assist residents of senior housing communities that do not provide medical care (like standard independent living facilities or non-licensed portions of retirement communities). The ombuds will handle complaints about landlord-tenant issues, contract disputes, and facility conditions, while tracking data on these concerns. Facilities must post the ombuds' contact information for residents and prospective residents before agreements are signed. The ombuds cannot issue sanctions but will investigate issues, provide resources, and report annual data to the legislature on resident concerns.
