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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 · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5482: Concerning the use of dogs to hunt black bear, cougar, or bobcat.

SB 5482 generally bans using dogs to hunt black bear, cougar, or bobcat in Washington State. Exceptions allow this practice for law enforcement protecting livestock/public safety, scientific research by universities/agencies, and protecting endangered species. The law also permits limited, commission-approved use of dogs in specific areas only after proving no other safety alternatives exist. Violating the ban results in a gross misdemeanor charge and a five-year suspension of hunting privileges.
Marko Liias (D) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1132: Enhancing public safety by limiting bulk purchases and transfers of firearms and ammunition.

HB 1132 updates Washington's firearm dealer licensing rules to enhance safety. It requires dealers to implement strict security measures, including alarms monitored by law enforcement, locked storage for firearms during non-business hours, and digital surveillance systems covering all sales areas. The bill mandates annual background checks for all employees selling firearms and prohibits temporary sales outside licensed locations except at designated gun shows. It also requires dealers to annually certify compliance with all licensing conditions and face permanent license loss for violations. These provisions directly affect licensed firearm dealers operating in Washington state.
Darya Farivar (D) · 26 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2064: Authorizing the secretary of state to develop and test electronic methods of ballot return for service and overseas voters, disabled voters, and certain incarcerated voters.

HB 2064 authorizes Washington's Secretary of State to develop and test a secure electronic portal for specific voters who cannot use standard mail to return ballots. It directly affects service members, overseas voters, disabled voters (per RCW 29A.04.037), and eligible incarcerated voters (excluding those with revoked voting rights). The bill requires the portal to ensure voter secrecy, prevent duplicate voting, and restrict usage to only these covered groups, with counties reporting all portal activity. The Secretary of State must submit annual progress reports to the legislature, starting December 1, 2025, and complete a final report by December 1, 2028.
Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates secure electronic voting portal with cybersecurity safeguards to protect voter data and prevent fraud, directly enhancing digital security measures for vulnerable voter groups.90% confidence
Darya Farivar (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1637: Concerning nonfirearm measures to increase school safety for students and staff.

HB 1637 requires Washington public schools to implement nonfirearm safety measures, directly affecting all public schools and school districts in the state. Key provisions include creating a public school safety dashboard to track and rate incidents by severity (e.g., bullying, violence), establishing security grants for physical improvements like keycard access and panic buttons, and mandating a full-time school resource officer at every public school. The bill also requires an evaluation of prior school safety reforms enacted in 2019. These changes aim to improve transparency, fund physical security upgrades, and ensure consistent safety staffing to address reported safety concerns among students and staff.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates security grants for school safety infrastructure and resource officers, requiring state budget allocation for public school safety measures.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates security grants, infrastructure improvements (keycard access, panic buttons), and resource officers to enhance school safety, directly improving educational environment and school infrastructure.95% confidence
Stephanie McClintock (R) · 12 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1138: Improving public safety by implementing evidence-based interview practices that increase the reliability of statements collected during criminal investigations.

HB 1138 requires Washington law enforcement officers to stop using deceptive tactics (like falsely claiming evidence exists) during criminal interrogations starting in 2026. It presumes statements obtained through deception are inadmissible in court for misdemeanor or felony cases, unless prosecutors prove the statement was voluntary. The bill mandates free, state-developed training for all officers on evidence-based techniques like the PEACE method, cognitive interviews, and trauma-informed approaches by July 2026. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and individuals being questioned in criminal investigations.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans deceptive interrogation tactics, makes deceptive statements inadmissible, mandates evidence-based training to increase statement reliability and reduce false confessions, enhancing police accountability and civil rights protections.95% confidence
Strom Peterson (D) · 13 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5397: Establishing limits on the percentage of courses taught by faculty without tenure track status at community and technical colleges.

SB 5397 limits the percentage of courses taught by non-tenure-track faculty at Washington state community and technical colleges. Starting July 1, 2030, these institutions must ensure no more than 45% of annual courses are taught by such faculty, requiring them to adopt policies by July 2026. Colleges must also submit annual reports starting in 2028 detailing their progress toward this 45% cap, including current course percentages. This bill directly affects all Washington community and technical colleges and their faculty hiring practices.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates increased tenure-track faculty presence (capping non-tenure at 45%), promoting faculty stability and quality in higher education institutions.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentLimits non-tenure-track faculty to 45% cap, promoting stable, better-paid tenure-track positions for college instructors, strengthening employment standards.95% confidence
Bill Ramos (D) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1952: Concerning special license plates.

HB 1952 delays the approval of new special license plates until June 30, 2029, except for plates created under a specific 2025 bill, and establishes a legislative task force to review the program. The task force, composed of 7 legislators and 2 department representatives, must evaluate application processes, costs, funding, and metrics for discontinuing plates by December 1, 2025. This bill directly affects sponsoring organizations seeking new plates and the Department of Licensing, which must report annually on financials and applications. The task force’s findings will inform future decisions on special license plate programs, with the bill expiring December 1, 2026.
Brandy Donaghy (D) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1246: Concerning juvenile justice.

HB 1246 updates Washington's juvenile justice process by changing how prosecutors handle cases involving minors. It requires prosecutors to divert first-time misdemeanor offenses and specific cases (like first-time voyeurism for minors or certain sexual offenses) to community programs instead of filing formal charges, while mandating charges for serious offenses (e.g., sex or violent crimes) or repeat offenses. The bill also adds requirements for notifying parents and victims, expands access to counseling and restorative programs, and encourages partnerships with community organizations to divert youth from court. This directly affects juveniles, prosecutors, and community-based service providers by shifting focus toward rehabilitation over prosecution for eligible cases.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts minor offenses to community programs instead of formal charges, promoting rehabilitation and reducing juvenile incarceration for non-serious cases, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence
Travis Couture (R) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1626: Expanding access to grants within the paid family and medical leave insurance program for small school districts.

HB 1626 expands financial assistance for small school districts and small businesses in Washington state that participate in the paid family and medical leave insurance program. It provides two types of grants: up to $3,000 for hiring temporary workers during an employee’s 7+ day leave, or up to $1,000 to cover extra payroll costs from an employee’s leave. Eligible employers include small school districts (classified as "second class"), businesses with 51-150 employees, and those with 50 or fewer employees who pay all insurance premiums. Grants require documentation of the leave-related costs and are limited to 10 per year per employer, with a three-year premium assessment for businesses under 50 employees that receive a grant.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides state grants ($3,000/$1,000) to fund small school districts/businesses, increasing government spending on essential paid leave program administration.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides direct financial grants ($3,000/$1,000) to small school districts for staffing costs during employee leave, increasing operational support for K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands grants for paid family and medical leave insurance program, strengthening employer participation and access to leave for health-related needs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands financial assistance for paid family/medical leave program, strengthening worker benefits and employer participation in leave coverage.90% confidence
Joe Timmons (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1221: Increasing legislative involvement in gubernatorial proclamations relating to a state of emergency.

HB 1221 changes how Washington's state of emergency declarations end. It requires that any emergency proclamation automatically terminate 60 days after the governor signs it unless the legislature passes a concurrent resolution extending it. If the legislature isn't in session, only the top four legislative leaders (senate majority/minority leaders and house speaker/minority leader) can temporarily extend the emergency for up to 60 days until the legislature acts. The bill also prevents the governor from redeclaring the same emergency after it's terminated without legislative approval. This directly affects governors' emergency powers and requires legislative action to maintain long-term emergency declarations.
Mike Volz (R) · 12 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1042: Authorizing cost recovery for county treasurers.

HB 1042 allows county treasurers in Washington to recover costs for billing, collecting, and distributing property taxes on behalf of taxing districts (like school, fire, and water districts). It permits treasurers to charge a fee based on each district’s tax roll after excluding the first $50,000 of collections, capped at 1% for counties over 250,000 residents and 2% for smaller counties. Recovered funds must be used directly to cover those specific services and cannot include existing costs like real estate excise tax administration. The bill directly affects taxing districts by requiring them to pay these fees, which are calculated annually and must be communicated by September 1st each year.
Sharon Wylie (D) · 2 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1877: Eliminating the offices, agencies, programs, and services of the public education system that do not have direct daily interaction with students.

HB 1877 would eliminate most non-teaching administrative offices in Washington state's public education system that do not involve daily student interaction, such as educational service districts and certain programs. By December 31, 2025, the state auditor must identify these offices and dissolve them, with the exception of the constitutionally required superintendent position. The bill states this change aims to reduce costs and administrative burdens, directing any education-related functions to be relocated into student-facing roles. This proposal is currently in committee review after its first reading on February 7, 2025.
Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly aims to reduce costs by eliminating non-essential administrative offices in public education, directly cutting government spending and administrative burdens per summary.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates non-teaching administrative offices (e.g., educational service districts) to reduce costs, weakening support structures for schools without direct student interaction, aligning with 'limit' and 'weaken' indicators.92% confidence
Jeremie Dufault (R) · 1 co-sponsor
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