Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2409: Placing agricultural employees under the jurisdiction of the public employment relations commission for the purpose of collective bargaining.

HB 2409 extends collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington State, including farmworkers and those in food processing, packing, and distribution. It places these workers under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), allowing them to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions through elected representatives. The bill defines key terms (like "agricultural employee" and "bargaining representative") and requires PERC to handle disputes while addressing barriers like language differences and seasonal work patterns. This policy change directly affects agricultural employers and workers, shifting their labor relations under state law rather than federal oversight.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2332: Concerning driver privacy protections.

HB 2332 regulates how Washington state and local agencies use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems to protect driver privacy. It requires all agencies using ALPRs to register systems with the Attorney General, limits their use to specific purposes (like checking stolen vehicles or missing persons), and prohibits collecting data near healthcare facilities, schools, or places of worship. The bill mandates detailed audit trails tracking every system access and explicitly bans using ALPRs for immigration enforcement or stopping vehicles based solely on a system match. Agencies must develop policies for ALPR use and obtain independent reasonable suspicion before stopping a vehicle, ensuring privacy rights under state and federal law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Osman Salahuddin (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2580: Increasing local effort assistance.

HB 2580 increases state funding to supplement school districts' local enrichment levies in Washington. It provides additional state funds based on a district's actual levy rate: districts with rates below $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value receive funding proportional to their rate, while those at or above $1.50 receive full maximum assistance. Tribal education compact schools receive per-student funding up to $2,692.74 (adjusted for inflation starting 2028), calculated using prior year data. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not count toward the state's basic education funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2279: Evaluating the use of PFAS chemicals in agriculture.

HB 2279 requires Washington's Department of Agriculture to evaluate the use of PFAS chemicals (known as "forever chemicals") in agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. By December 2026, the department must establish criteria to assess these chemicals, and starting in December 2027, it will review new fertilizer and pesticide registrations against these standards. Products containing PFAS that fail to meet the criteria may be refused or canceled for registration. This directly affects fertilizer and pesticide manufacturers, as well as farmers who rely on these agricultural products. The bill does not ban PFAS outright but creates a new review process for future product registrations.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2316: Concerning land use development when vegetation associated with shrubsteppe is present in the urban growth areas.

HB 2316 amends Washington state land use rules to allow development in urban growth areas even when shrubsteppe vegetation is present. It clarifies that such vegetation does not constitute a functional ecosystem requiring protection, removing barriers for property owners and developers seeking to build within designated urban boundaries. The bill aims to support the state's housing goal by enabling maximum development density in existing urban areas, reducing pressure to build outside these boundaries. This change aligns with wildfire prevention guidelines that recommend clearing vegetation near buildings, as the legislature states shrubsteppe removal has "negligible impact" on the environment.

Topics ✗ Environment ✓ Housing

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2582: Concerning civil service positions in city and town fire departments.

HB 2582 modifies civil service rules for city and town fire departments in Washington State based on department size. For departments with fewer than six firefighters (including the chief), all full-time employees must be covered by civil service rules. For larger departments (six or more firefighters), cities/towns may exempt the fire chief from civil service, and may also exempt up to 2-10 additional positions (like assistant chief or administrative roles) based on department size, as specified in a table. All exemptions require approval from the fire chief, mayor/city administrator, and the civil service commission, with safeguards for current employees in affected roles. The bill directly affects local fire departments and their hiring/promotion processes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 6051: Providing flexibility to school districts by authorizing school district waivers.

SB 6051 authorizes Washington school districts to grant waivers or partial waivers of specific state laws and rules to individual schools within the district. School principals must apply for waivers by explaining how they improve student learning, and districts must allow public comment on requests. However, waivers cannot be granted for health/safety requirements, civil rights protections, basic education programs, or mandatory staff employment rules. Districts may use savings from waived requirements but must share 10% of the savings (capped at $10,000 per school or teacher) with the requesting school and the teacher who proposed the waiver.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2596: Restoring parenting time lost.

HB 2596 helps parents regain lost parenting time when a court-ordered schedule was disrupted by a false accusation of child abuse or neglect made by the other parent. It creates a streamlined process: a "denied parent" can file a fee-free motion within 20 days, and if the court confirms the accusation was unfounded (e.g., closed by child welfare or deemed without probable cause), it restores the lost time. The bill also allows for doubling the lost time if the false claim was made maliciously to interfere with parenting, and requires the accusing parent to cover legal fees and penalties for noncompliance. This directly affects parents whose parenting rights were unjustly restricted due to unsubstantiated allegations.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2581: Providing additional investment options for electric utilities under the 20 percent alternative compliance option of the clean energy transformation act's greenhouse gas neutral standard.

HB 2581 expands the options electric utilities can use to meet 20% of their greenhouse gas neutral compliance requirement under Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act. It allows utilities to count investments in specific projects - such as upgrading transmission systems, enabling distributed energy resources, installing EV charging infrastructure (including for low-income communities), and addressing transmission constraints - toward this 20% target. Each $1 million spent on these qualifying projects counts as 0.25% toward the utility’s compliance obligation. The bill applies directly to Washington’s retail electric utilities required to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2030. It does not change the core requirement that 80% of electricity must come from renewable or nonemitting sources.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2591: Requiring a demonstration of support before a legislative bill is filed.

HB 2591 requires legislative sponsors to gather at least 1,000 signatures from registered Washington voters supporting a bill before it can be filed with the office of the code reviser. This applies to all bills, resolutions, or memorials introduced by state legislators, directly affecting those who propose new legislation. The key mechanism mandates this signature threshold to ensure proposed bills have a minimum level of public support before entering the legislative process. The bill also establishes civil penalties of up to $10,000 for violations of related anti-influence provisions, including a citizen lawsuit option for alleged "trading in special influence." This procedural requirement aims to reduce duplicative filings and enhance transparency in the legislative workflow.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2314: Concerning dental care services at residential habilitation centers.

HB 2314 creates a pilot program allowing people with developmental disabilities who live in community settings to access dental care at residential habilitation centers. To qualify, individuals must have high medical/behavioral needs requiring anesthesia or face unavailability of community dental care. The pilot permits short-term 24-hour admissions at these centers, uses Medicaid billing, and requires federal funds to go to the state general fund. The program expires July 1, 2028, with a required legislative report detailing outcomes, including participation numbers and challenges. It directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities who face barriers to routine dental care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 6163: Eliminating wait lists for the individual and family services waiver by including estimated expenditures for the waiver in maintenance level budgets.

This bill requires Washington's Department of Social and Health Services to include estimated costs for the individual and family services waiver program in the state's maintenance level budgets starting with the 2026 budget proposal. It directly affects people with developmental disabilities who are waiting for waiver-funded services by mandating annual budget requests for these costs. The key mechanism shifts how these services are funded, requiring the department to submit annual budget requests for waiver expenditures within existing appropriations, rather than seeking separate funding. This change aims to eliminate waitlists by ensuring consistent budgeting for the program. The bill amends existing law to implement this budgeting process.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Bill results