HB 1258 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Providing funding for municipalities participating in the regional 911 emergency communications system.

HB 1258 establishes a system for certain counties to share 911 emergency communication tax revenues with local governments. It requires counties east of the Cascade mountains with populations between 530,000 and 1,500,000 that operate regional 911 systems to transfer a portion of their collected 911 excise tax revenues. These transfers go to local governments that operate municipal public safety answering points or receive 911 calls transferred for dispatch. Quarterly transfers, calculated using a specified percentage, are scheduled to begin in calendar year 2026.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed May 15, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and certified for the 2025 Regular Session after passing both the House and Senate. The core policy change simplifies the funding formula for counties east of the Cascades, removing complex population thresholds and specific apportionment rules in favor of a flat percentage based on existing state tax rates. Additionally, the requirement for these counties to transfer funds to local governments was delayed to begin in calendar year 2026.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was narrowed by removing specific population criteria (530,000 to 1,500,000) and geographic tax revenue sourcing rules, replacing them with a uniform percentage calculation tied to RCW 82.14.420.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed specific population thresholds (530,000 to 1,500,000) and detailed tax revenue sourcing rules that previously determined which counties must transfer funds.

FISCAL

Changed the funding calculation method from a complex apportionment based on local government taxing jurisdictions to a flat percentage identical to that used under RCW 82.14.420.

TIMELINE

Delayed the start date for mandatory quarterly fund transfers from counties to local governments from the effective date to calendar year 2026.

TECHNICAL

Added standard certification of enrollment text, including passage dates, vote counts, and signatures from the Chief Clerk and Secretary of State.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 9, 2025 · House Mar 11, 2025

How they voted

30–21

Passed

Total votes 51

Apr 9, 2025

D Democratic31

29 Yea 2 Nay

93% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 15, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Apr 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Apr 9, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (30-21)

senate

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor