Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1315: Concerning impaired driving.

This bill lowers Washington's legal blood alcohol limit for DUI convictions from 0.08 to 0.05 within two hours of driving, and sets a THC concentration threshold of 5.00 or higher for cannabis impairment. It applies to all drivers operating vehicles in the state, directly affecting anyone found driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or drugs. The bill creates new defenses allowing defendants to prove they consumed alcohol or cannabis *after* driving but *before* testing, if they notify prosecutors early. It also adjusts penalties, making certain repeat offenses or severe cases (like vehicular homicide) punishable as class B felonies.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5131: Accommodating religious foods in state correctional facilities.

SB 5131 requires Washington state correctional facilities to make reasonable efforts to accommodate religious celebration meals for incarcerated individuals. It mandates coordination with nonprofit organizations to provide these meals at no cost to residents, excluding any optional meal enhancements. The bill sets a 45-day maximum deadline for planning meals, barring supply chain issues, and explicitly states that facilities must not charge incarcerated people for the core religious meal. This policy directly affects all incarcerated individuals in state facilities seeking to observe religious dietary practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1994: Encouraging local support of communities that host renewable energy through changes in tax policy.

HB 1994 allows Washington counties to seek voter approval for a new excise tax on large renewable energy facilities (solar, wind, or battery storage with 50+ megawatts capacity), directly affecting counties that adopt it and the facility operators who pay the tax. The tax rate varies by technology and facility operational date (e.g., $4,000-$4,500 per megawatt for solar, $800-$6,300 for wind), adjusted annually for inflation. Counties must clearly state how tax revenue will be used in ballot measures, and the tax expires after 30 years unless renewed by voters. This creates a new tax policy framework in state law to support communities hosting renewable projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2021: Authorizing the public works board to issue bonds for the purpose of financing public works infrastructure projects.

HB 2021 authorizes Washington's Public Works Board to issue bonds repaid solely by project revenue (not state funds) to finance infrastructure projects for local governments. It directly affects cities, counties, and special districts needing to build or repair roads, bridges, water systems, sewage systems, and solid waste facilities. The bill amends state law to allow these nonrecourse bonds, creating a new financing tool to address over $4 billion in unmet infrastructure needs identified by the legislature. This provides affordable, project-specific funding without using taxpayer money or state credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1901: Concerning mattress producer responsibility organizations.

HB 1901 requires mattress manufacturers and importers to fund recycling programs to reduce landfill waste. It creates a system where producers pay for collection, recycling, and proper disposal of mattresses, directly affecting companies selling mattresses in Washington. The bill mandates "environmentally sound" recycling practices, prioritizing reuse and recycling over landfill disposal, and establishes producer responsibility organizations to manage these programs. This aims to cut illegal dumping, create recycling jobs, and capture materials like metal and foam for reuse, reducing landfill costs and emissions.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5477: Improving access to appropriate mental health and substance use disorder services.

SB 5477 updates Washington's mental health parity law to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services by requiring health insurers to cover medically necessary care based on established clinical standards. The bill defines "medically necessary" care as services aligned with evidence-based guidelines from recognized medical associations and eliminates previous exclusions for substance use disorder treatments (effective 2026) and certain diagnostic codes. It mandates consistent coverage rules for both mental health and substance use disorders, removes administrative barriers for providers joining insurance networks, and repeals outdated provisions that limited coverage. This directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and patients seeking covered mental health and substance use treatment services in Washington.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HJM 4006: Requesting that Congress enact legislation that would reinstate the separation of commercial and investment banking functions that were in effect under the Glass-Steagall act.

This Washington State Joint Memorial (HJM 4006) requests Congress to enact legislation reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act's separation of commercial banking from investment banking. It specifically asks for laws like H.R. 2714 (the Return to Prudent Banking Act of 2023) that would prohibit commercial banks from investing in stocks, underwriting securities, or handling derivative transactions using customer deposits. The request aims to prevent taxpayer-funded bailouts of financial institutions by restricting banks from using depositors' funds for high-risk investment activities. The memorial cites bipartisan support for this policy shift but notes it is a non-binding request to federal lawmakers, not a state law.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1586: Modifying joint administrative rules review committee provisions.

HB 1586 modifies Washington's joint administrative rules review committee structure and expands how agency rules can be reviewed. It requires the committee to hold quarterly meetings and specifies its composition (four senators, four representatives, max two per party). The bill creates two new review pathways: (1) allowing petitions for review of emergency rules or rules lacking adequate public input (e.g., insufficient testimony time or short hearing notice), and (2) enabling legislators to request review of any rule filed under state rulemaking rules or emergency rules adopted in the past five years. These changes directly affect state agencies creating rules and the legislative committee responsible for oversight.

Matt Marshall (R) · 18 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1095: Incentivizing cities and counties to attract and retain commissioned law enforcement officers.

HB 1095 would allow Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales and use tax credit to fund law enforcement recruitment and retention. Local governments would collect this tax as a credit against state sales tax, with at least 50% of the revenue required to directly support hiring and retaining commissioned officers. The tax would be phased in starting in 2026 for smaller jurisdictions (under 50,000 residents), expanding to all cities and counties by 2028. This bill creates a new funding mechanism but does not alter existing officer training requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1303: Increasing environmental justice by improving government decisions.

HB 1303 requires Washington state agencies to formally consider environmental justice in government decisions affecting communities disproportionately burdened by pollution. It mandates the Department of Ecology to add environmental justice as a standard element in environmental checklists and rules, and to develop standardized mitigation measures for adverse impacts on these communities. The bill directly affects lead agencies (like state departments) conducting environmental reviews under Chapter 43.21C RCW, requiring them to integrate environmental justice considerations alongside other environmental factors. This builds on existing environmental justice law (RCW 70A.02) without changing its core requirements. The policy change ensures agencies systematically address health and environmental disparities in their decision-making processes.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5789: Restoring state financial aid assistance to a maximum of 125 percent of credits needed to graduate.

SB 5789 restores the maximum state financial aid eligibility for the Washington College Grant program to 125 percent of the credits required to graduate, replacing a previous higher limit. This change directly affects eligible students pursuing postsecondary credentials who receive state aid, ensuring support aligns with standard program credit requirements. The bill amends key statutes to set this 125% cap, meaning aid will no longer cover credits beyond 125% of a program’s published length. It applies to students meeting financial need criteria and enrolled in Washington institutions or apprenticeships, maintaining existing eligibility rules for low-income residents. The policy update aims to streamline aid usage while preserving access for qualifying students.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5285: Incentivizing cities and counties to increase employment of commissioned law enforcement officers.

SB 5285 would allow Washington cities and counties to impose a 0.10% sales tax to fund additional commissioned law enforcement officers. Jurisdictions must use the revenue solely for hiring officers unless their current officer-to-population ratio exceeds the national average (calculated using FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data), in which case funds can support broader criminal justice programs like domestic violence services or homelessness initiatives. The bill targets Washington's high violent crime rates and low officer staffing - ranking last in the nation for officers per capita - by creating a dedicated funding stream for local law enforcement expansion. It requires jurisdictions to report staffing data annually and mandates that tax revenue directly supports law enforcement employment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results