HB 2292 changes Washington state tax rules to include gains from federally designated small business stock in state capital gains calculations. It affects Washington residents who sell qualifying small business stock after January 1, 2026, by requiring these gains to be taxed under state law. The bill adds these gains to Washington’s adjusted capital gain calculation, which previously excluded them. This means more small business investment profits will now be subject to Washington’s capital gains tax starting in 2026.
HB 2672 requires private organizations (like nonprofits under IRS 501(c)) receiving state-funded grants to disclose specific information on a standardized form. This includes details about high-paid employees ($100,000+), staff with past public office, board members and their compensation, political contributions from the last four election cycles, and how grant funds will be spent. State agencies must collect these disclosures during grant applications or renewals, send all completed forms to the Office of Financial Management, and ensure compliance. Noncompliance results in losing the grant and repaying all funds, while the Office will maintain a public database of all disclosures. The bill directly affects grant-seeking private entities and state agencies administering such funding.
HB 2542 requires Washington-based animal testing facilities, contract testing facilities, and drug manufacturers to use non-animal test methods for drug development when scientifically valid alternatives are available. It prohibits the use of animal test methods in the drug development process (including discovery and preclinical research) if equivalent or better alternatives exist, defined as methods validated by federal bodies that don’t involve animals. The law does not apply if federal regulations mandate animal testing, and violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Washington’s consumer protection law. This directly affects entities conducting drug safety and efficacy testing within the state, aiming to align with federal policy supporting non-animal testing methods.
HB 2250 limits hospital charity care eligibility to Washington state residents, directly affecting hospitals and patients seeking free care. The bill requires hospitals to restrict charity care to individuals meeting specific residency criteria, such as living in Washington with intent to stay indefinitely, entering for work, or being a child with a resident parent. Exceptions include emergency care under federal law, children under 18, and those receiving state/federal payments (like foster care assistance), while explicitly prohibiting immigration status from being considered. It clarifies that non-residents, including those seeking routine care, cannot access charity care, aiming to prevent strain on hospital capacity and cost increases for Washington residents. The law takes immediate effect and amends existing hospital charity care statutes.
HB 2337 repeals training requirements that would have applied to family members caring for relatives starting January 1, 2027. The bill maintains current law, removing obligations that were set to take effect under 2024 legislation. It directly affects unpaid family caregivers who provide care to relatives, eliminating a new mandatory training mandate. The bill repeals three specific sections from 2024 Washington laws (c 322 s 4, s 7, and s 8) that established these requirements. This is a procedural change focused on removing future requirements, not creating new ones.
SB 6317 requires property buyers intending to operate facilities for sexually violent predators under "less restrictive alternatives" to provide written notice to local officials before closing a property sale. The notice must include the planned start date, maximum occupancy, and resident names if known, and must be sent to the county sheriff, local legislators, county administrators, and county commissioners. This disclosure must occur after entering escrow but before the sale closes. Violating this requirement is classified as a class 1 civil infraction.
SB 6316 creates a property tax exemption for seniors (61+), disabled retirees, and veterans with a 40%+ VA disability rating. It exempts $150,000 of a home's assessed value from property taxes for households with combined income under $65,000, applying to taxes levied starting in 2027. To qualify, applicants must live in the home as their primary residence, meet income limits, and file annual renewal forms by June 30. The exemption is in addition to existing homestead exemptions and requires renewal every six years. This directly affects eligible homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden.
SB 6314 (Washington State) regulates firearm manufacturing using 3D printers, CNC milling machines, or digital code. It directly affects individuals or entities producing firearms through these digital methods, aiming to prevent untraceable or undetectable weapons. The bill amends state law to require registration or oversight for such manufacturing, closing a loophole that allows prohibited individuals to bypass background checks. It specifically targets unlicensed production of firearms that evade standard safety checks, addressing public safety concerns identified in the bill's findings.
This Senate Resolution (SR 8670) is a symbolic recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th. It formally encourages the Washington State Senate and citizens to reflect on Holocaust victims and survivors, and to participate in educational activities about the Holocaust and combating antisemitism and hate. The resolution does not create new laws or policies, but serves as a commemorative statement acknowledging the historical significance of the Holocaust and promoting awareness of ongoing efforts to prevent hatred.
This bill declares an emergency due to the permanent closure of the Fairfax bridge on State Route 165 (April 22, 2025) and directs the state transportation department to restore access as quickly as possible. It grants the transportation secretary emergency authority to waive specific regulations - including liability rules, inspection fees, utility commission requirements, and tax deadlines - to expedite rebuilding the bridge. This applies to the replacement project on SR 165 and requires the secretary to provide practical notice to the governor, legislative leaders, and local governments. The bill directly affects state transportation agencies, local governments along SR 165, and contractors working on the bridge replacement. It does not address the unrelated climate funding provisions in Section 2 of the bill text.
HB 2387 clarifies that elected sheriffs not certified as peace officers under Washington law cannot personally perform law enforcement actions reserved for certified officers, though they retain authority for actions authorized by law. The bill automatically triggers recall proceedings if a sheriff’s certification is revoked for misconduct occurring after their term began - specifically, mandatory decertification (under RCW 43.101.105(2)) eliminates the need to collect voter signatures for a recall election. It amends laws to require the Criminal Justice Training Commission to initiate recalls upon certification revocation and specifies that no signatures are needed for such cases. This applies only to sheriffs who lack peace officer certification, directly affecting their accountability process for post-term misconduct.
This bill modifies Washington state's garnishment law to clarify how attorneys' fees are calculated and recovered in debt collection cases. It sets a specific fee structure: plaintiffs can recover the greater of $100 or 10% of the amount collected through garnishment, but not exceeding $300. The bill also requires plaintiffs to include a daily interest estimate (based on 12% or the judgment rate, whichever is lower) in their garnishment writ. These changes directly affect creditors pursuing debt collection through garnishment proceedings and aim to standardize fee recovery.
