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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 12, 2026

HB 1884: Concerning cannabis regulation.

HB 1884 requires Washington's Liquor and Cannabis Board to prioritize enforcement on youth access and preventing cannabis from entering illegal markets (inversion/diversion). It allows written warnings instead of fines for minor regulatory issues not affecting public safety, limits license cancellations to serious violations (like selling to minors or diverting products), and prohibits considering violations older than two years unless they involve those serious issues. The bill directly affects licensed cannabis businesses by shifting enforcement focus and modifying penalty structures. These changes aim to create regulatory certainty while reducing burdens for compliant businesses.
Kevin Waters (R) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1645: Enhancing consumer protections for automobile insurance coverage.

HB 1645 requires Washington auto insurance policies covering car damage (physical damage coverage) to include a mandatory appraisal process for resolving disputes over repair costs. If insurers and policyholders disagree on the value of damage, they must use this process: each selects an appraiser, then an umpire if needed, with clear rules for cost-sharing. Policyholders get reimbursed for appraisal costs if the final valuation exceeds the insurer’s initial offer by $500 or more. This applies to all policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
Strom Peterson (D) · 9 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1789: Concerning the photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program.

Washington State's HB 1789 establishes a program requiring solar panel (photovoltaic module) manufacturers to finance and manage recycling and takeback systems for their products. The bill directly affects manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of solar panels sold in Washington, mandating they create and submit "stewardship plans" by January 31, 2028. Key provisions include requiring manufacturers to cover all costs for collection and recycling, accept all panels sold in the state since 2017, minimize hazardous waste, and recover valuable materials like rare earth elements. The program aims to ensure convenient, safe, and environmentally sound end-of-life handling of solar panels without cost to consumers.
Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates solar panel recycling program, supporting renewable energy infrastructure sustainability by requiring manufacturer responsibility for end-of-life management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates manufacturer-funded recycling of solar panels to prevent waste, conserve resources, and reduce landfill pollution per the bill's core requirements.92% confidence
Shelley Kloba (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1668: Concerning community custody.

HB 1668 modifies Washington's sentencing guidelines by adjusting how prior convictions affect an offender's score used to determine sentences. It allows certain prior felony convictions (like Class B or C felonies, excluding sex offenses and DUI) to be excluded from the scoring if the offender has gone five or ten years without new convictions after release. This primarily affects individuals with past non-violent felony records who maintained clean criminal histories for extended periods. The bill aims to reduce sentencing severity for low-risk offenders who demonstrate sustained rehabilitation, without altering penalties for violent offenses or specific crimes like DUI.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExcludes prior non-violent felonies from sentencing scores after 5-10 clean years, reducing harsh penalties for rehabilitated offenders and aligning with reform goals to lower recidivism.92% confidence
Lauren Davis (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5258: Implementing state auditor recommendations for reducing improper medicaid concurrent enrollment payments.

SB 5258 requires Washington's Medicaid agency and state auditor to collaborate with managed care organizations to prevent duplicate Medicaid enrollments across states, which causes unnecessary payments. Key provisions mandate that private health plans monthly identify individuals enrolled in multiple state Medicaid programs, recover premiums for those who moved out of state, and report findings annually starting in 2027. The bill also directs agencies to use national address databases to track residents who relocate out of state and requires a state auditor performance audit by 2031 to assess progress. These changes directly affect Washington's Medicaid program and the private health plans contracted with the state, aiming to reduce improper payments through systematic tracking and reporting.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill prevents duplicate Medicaid payments, reducing unnecessary state spending and promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents duplicate Medicaid payments, ensuring proper fund allocation for healthcare services without restricting coverage.85% confidence
Chris Gildon (R) · 6 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5035: Concerning voter education during a period in which a jurisdiction is changing the method of selecting candidates.

SB 5035 requires Washington counties or jurisdictions changing their voting methods (such as switching from primaries to single-event elections) to provide comprehensive voter education. It mandates mailed materials explaining the new system compared to the old one, a multilingual 24/7 website with FAQs, and targeted advertising in local media like newspapers and radio. The law also requires translations for all languages required by federal or state voting laws and provides educational materials to high schools about the change. These requirements apply during the transition period before the new voting method is used in an election.
Mike Chapman (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1763: Providing state funding for essential affordable housing programs.

HB 1763 imposes a 6% tax on short-term rental platforms (like Airbnb) starting January 2026. Revenue from this tax funds local affordable housing programs and housing infrastructure projects (such as water, sewer, and transportation systems) in counties and cities. Local governments must use the funds exclusively for homeless services, shelters, or infrastructure, with requirements including limiting single-family units to 2,000 square feet and requiring urban annexation for projects within growth boundaries. The bill directly affects short-term rental platforms (as taxpayers) and local governments (as fund recipients).
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 6% tax on short-term rentals to fund affordable housing and infrastructure, directly increasing public service funding through new tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill imposes tax on short-term rentals to fund affordable housing programs, homeless services, and housing infrastructure per explicit summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds transportation systems as eligible infrastructure under housing projects, directly supporting transportation infrastructure funding.95% confidence
Lisa Parshley (D) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1929: Requiring senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointments to vacancies on the court of appeals.

HB 1929 requires Washington's Senate to confirm the governor's appointments to vacancies on the Court of Appeals. It mandates a two-thirds Senate vote for confirmation, with specific deadlines for votes during legislative sessions or the next session if the legislature is adjourned. This directly affects the governor (who makes appointments), the Senate (which must confirm), and Court of Appeals judges (who fill vacancies until the next general election). The bill also prohibits reappointing rejected candidates for two years and clarifies that this process does not apply to other judicial vacancies covered by separate law.
Hunter Abell (R) · 6 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1047: Creating a sales tax exemption for equipment purchased by fire districts in rural counties.

HB 1047 exempts fire districts in rural counties from paying state sales and use taxes on equipment purchases. It applies to fire districts with populations under 10,000, defined as "rural counties" under existing law, and covers firefighting, emergency medical, and fire prevention equipment. To qualify, districts must apply for a certificate of exemption from the state department, which will publish an annual list of eligible districts. The exemption takes effect October 1, 2025, for all qualifying purchases and uses after that date.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemption for rural fire districts' equipment purchases, reducing their costs and supporting public safety funding through tax relief.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill exempts tax on emergency medical equipment for fire districts, improving access to EMS services under healthcare policy.85% confidence
Tom Dent (R) · 10 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1535: Ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices.

HB 1535 prohibits dental insurers from restricting patient choice or limiting care based on network agreements, requiring dentists to make treatment decisions with patients rather than insurers. It mandates that at least 85% of dental insurance premiums be spent directly on patient care, not administrative costs, and gives patients the right to request independent reviews for denied claims. The bill directly affects dental patients (ensuring access to chosen providers and fair coverage), dentists (protecting their clinical autonomy), and dental insurers (requiring compliance with transparency and spending rules). These changes aim to create a fairer system by aligning dental insurance protections with medical insurance standards and reducing out-of-pocket costs for Washington residents.
Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurer restrictions on patient choice, mandates 85% premium spending on care, and ensures appeal rights - directly advancing patient access and rights in dental healthcare.95% confidence
My-Linh Thai (D) · 27 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5347: Concerning organized retail theft.

SB 5347 defines "organized retail theft" in Washington State, making it a felony when thefts meet specific value thresholds or involve coordinated activity. It creates two degrees: second-degree felony (theft valued at $750-$5,000 across multiple incidents or with two accomplices) and first-degree felony ($5,000+ value). The bill allows retail stores to request aggregation of multiple thefts for prosecution and updates the timeframe for combining thefts from 180 to 365 days. This directly affects retailers seeking to prosecute coordinated theft rings and individuals committing thefts meeting the new criteria. The law aims to strengthen penalties for repeat or group-based retail thefts without changing existing retail store obligations.
Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for retail theft by defining organized theft as felony, expanding criminalization, and allowing aggregation of incidents to meet felony thresholds.95% confidence
Phil Fortunato (R)
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1057: Promoting economic development by increasing support for local communities to access federal funds.

HB 1057 creates a state fund to help Washington communities secure federal economic development grants by providing matching dollars. It directly affects local governments, rural areas, tribes, nonprofits, and businesses seeking federal funds for projects like broadband, housing, infrastructure, and workforce training. Key mechanisms include establishing scoring criteria prioritizing rural counties and job creation, setting grant tiers (up to 100% matching for most entities), and requiring the state to provide a template letter supporting federal applications. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and expands online resources to track available federal opportunities.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state fund to match federal grants, increasing state spending for economic development projects like broadband and housing.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates state fund to match federal grants for housing projects, directly enabling housing development funding as explicitly listed in summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce training projects via state matching grants, prioritizing job creation in economic development initiatives.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds broadband projects via matching grants, directly expanding internet access for rural communities and tribes as a key project type.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds infrastructure projects via state matching grants, explicitly listing infrastructure as eligible for federal grant support alongside transportation-relevant areas like broadband and workforce training.92% confidence
Stephanie Barnard (R) · 16 co-sponsors
Showing 1,153 to 1,164 of 8,818 bills
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