SB 6200 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning renters' and mobile home occupants' ability to install portable cooling devices.

This bill allows renters and mobile home occupants in Washington to install portable cooling devices (like window units or floor models) without landlord approval, with key exceptions for safety, building codes, or existing heat pumps. Landlords cannot charge fees for installation or restrict devices, but may require proper drainage and 48-hour notice for inspections. They must disclose insurance restrictions on window units in leases and inform tenants of their rights. The law does not override existing disability accommodation requirements or landlord responsibilities for electrical issues caused by tenant devices.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Signed Mar 24, 2026

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 2026 session, adding official legislative signatures. Key policy changes include simplifying the rules for landlords who ban window AC units by removing the requirement to prove an insurance policy exists as a reason for a ban, and clarifying that landlords only need to warn tenants about bans if they actually have one. Additionally, the definition of a 'portable cooling device' was slightly narrowed to remove 'evaporative coolers' from the list of devices tenants can install.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on residential rental housing, but the specific conditions under which landlords can restrict window AC units were modified to be less burdensome for landlords.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that a landlord must have an insurance policy restriction to legally ban a window AC unit; they can now ban it based on other criteria listed in the bill.

Changed the landlord's notification duty so they only need to inform tenants about AC restrictions if they actually choose to impose them.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'portable cooling device' to exclude evaporative coolers, limiting the tenant right to install only air conditioners and portable heat pumps.

Narrowed the definition of 'portable cooling device' in a separate section by changing 'requires' to 'require' to ensure grammatical consistency with the rest of the act.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026 · House Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

37–14

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 17, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

6 Yea 14 Nay

70% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 37; nays, 12; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (66-29-5)

house

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Housing at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors