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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 1886: Creating a firefighter memorial special license plate.

HB 1886 creates a new "Firefighter Memorial" special license plate for Washington vehicle owners. The plate features a Maltese cross with "never forget" and requires a $40 initial fee plus $30 annual renewal, with funds distributed to the Firefighter Memorial Fund. This plate directly affects vehicle owners who choose to display it, joining existing specialty plates like "Law Enforcement Memorial" under state law. The bill amends vehicle registration statutes to add this plate type while maintaining standard fee structures for special license plates.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new revenue stream ($40 initial, $30 annual) for Firefighter Memorial Fund, directly allocating funds to a specific program via vehicle registration fees.85% confidence
Skyler Rude (R) · 4 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2082: Increasing funding to the education legacy trust account by creating a more progressive rate structure for the capital gains tax and estate tax.

HB 2082 aims to increase funding for public K-12 education, early learning, child care, and higher education in Washington state. The bill proposes to do this by modifying the state's capital gains tax and estate tax. It introduces an additional 2.90% excise tax on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000, effective January 1, 2025. For the estate tax, it increases the exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2025, and intends to raise the top-tier rates up to 35 percent. Revenues generated from these changes would be dedicated to the education legacy trust account.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes 2.90% capital gains tax on gains >$1M to fund education, creating progressive tax structure for public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly increases education funding via new capital gains/estate taxes for K-12, early learning, and higher education.95% confidence
Chipalo Street (D) · 12 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1189: Addressing parental involvement through volunteering in schools after a criminal conviction.

HB 1189 modifies Washington state school policies regarding parental volunteers with criminal convictions. It requires schools to inform parents about submitting rehabilitation documents (like expungements or certificates of rehabilitation) and prohibits denying volunteer applications based solely on past convictions if such documents are provided. For parents without these documents, schools must consider factors like time since conviction, whether minors were involved, and other relevant details before denying applications, and must provide written reasons for denials within five days. Parents denied access can appeal to the superintendent of public instruction, with specific appeal procedures to be established by that office. The bill directly affects parents seeking school volunteer roles who have criminal histories, aiming to balance safety considerations with opportunities for parental involvement.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables rehabilitation integration by allowing school volunteering with expungement certificates, reducing post-conviction barriers aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers for parents with criminal records to volunteer, expanding school community access and inclusivity in K-12 settings.85% confidence
Tarra Simmons (D) · 7 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HJR 4203: Amending the Constitution to provide for senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointments to vacancies on the supreme court.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the Washington State Senate to confirm the governor's appointments to vacant Supreme Court seats. Currently, the governor appoints justices to fill vacancies without Senate approval; this change would add a confirmation step for all such appointments. The amendment would modify Article IV, Section 3 of the state constitution to state that appointments "shall be subject to confirmation by the senate as provided by statute." It directly affects the governor (who makes appointments), the Senate (which must confirm), and the process for filling Supreme Court vacancies. The change would take effect if approved by voters at the next general election.
Hunter Abell (R) · 6 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5260: Concerning emergency measures for managing juvenile populations at state juvenile correctional institutions.

SB 5260, the Youth Rehabilitation Pathways Act, allows youth aged 18 and older in Washington state juvenile correctional facilities (operated by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families) to request transfer to the adult correctional system (Department of Corrections). The bill requires facilities to provide a transfer form, grant a 3-day reconsideration period, and complete transfers within 10 days. It removes standard court hearings for these transfers and limits transfers to the original juvenile court’s maximum confinement term. The law directly affects older youth in juvenile facilities, aiming to address overcrowding and provide access to adult correctional programs.
Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves court hearings for transfer to adult system, reducing due process and oversight, opposing criminal justice reform efforts.85% confidence
Leonard Christian (R) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5422: Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence.

SB 5422 requires public employers in Washington State, including universities and state agencies, to negotiate with employee unions over decisions to adopt or change artificial intelligence (AI) technology when those changes affect employees' wages or performance evaluations. This bill amends existing labor laws (RCW 41.56 and 41.80) to specifically include AI-related workplace changes in mandatory bargaining topics. The law applies only to AI uses impacting wages or evaluations, not all technology decisions, and does not affect existing contracts until their renewal. Public sector employees covered under these labor codes are the direct beneficiaries of this requirement.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates public employers to negotiate AI-related changes affecting wages/performance evaluations with unions, strengthening collective bargaining rights under labor laws.95% confidence
Jess Bateman (D) · 12 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5715: Concerning retroactively applying the requirement to exclude certain juvenile convictions from an offender score regardless of the date of the offense.

SB 5715 retroactively removes sentencing points from certain juvenile convictions that were previously counted toward adult prison sentences. It allows eligible incarcerated individuals (who had juvenile convictions counted in their sentence before July 2023) to petition for resentencing if they meet specific time-served thresholds (e.g., 50% served by 2027 or 15 years served). The bill requires courts to grant resentencing hearings unless the person has serious disciplinary records, lacks rehabilitation evidence, or poses a high risk of reoffending, while ensuring victims can provide input. It also guarantees free legal counsel for eligible petitioners and sets a minimum six-month release wait after resentencing. This applies only to people currently incarcerated with sentences ending on or after July 2026.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill retroactively removes juvenile conviction points from sentencing, enabling resentencing for eligible incarcerated individuals to reduce sentences and align with reform goals of fairness and rehabilitation.92% confidence
Claudia Kauffman (D) · 6 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1943: Encouraging public school instruction in awareness of blood donation.

HB 1943 requires Washington public high schools (grades 9-12) to include blood donation awareness instruction in at least one required health class starting in the 2025-26 school year. The bill directs schools to use programs from approved organizations like the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest, which must be posted on the state education website. It also allows schools serving grades K-8 to offer age-appropriate versions of this instruction. The bill aims to educate students about blood donation’s life-saving impact and eligibility, complementing existing health education without mandating certified staff delivery.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates blood donation awareness curriculum in health classes, enhancing student education programs and expanding required health content for K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates blood donation awareness education in schools, supporting public health initiatives and blood supply infrastructure through voluntary donations.85% confidence
Edwin Obras (D) · 10 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5771: Increasing the working families' tax credit to reflect the economic impact of property taxes incorporated into rental amounts charged to residential tenants.

SB 5771 adds a new $300 annual tax credit for low-income renters in Washington who paid rent for their primary residence (including mobile home lots) for at least 183 days during the year. This credit directly affects eligible individuals who already qualify for the existing Working Families Tax Credit but also face property taxes included in their rent. The credit is calculated based on rental duration (183+ days), adjusted for inflation starting in 2027, and reduces at specific income levels as outlined in the bill. It expands the existing credit program to specifically address the financial impact of property taxes embedded in rental costs.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds $300 annual tax credit for low-income renters facing property taxes in rent, providing direct tax relief to lower-income households.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides $300 annual tax credit to low-income renters for property taxes included in rent, directly increasing housing affordability for tenants.95% confidence
June Robinson (D) · 16 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5340: Exempting permanently from sales and use tax bottled water, prepared food, and clothing.

SB 5340 would permanently exempt bottled water, prepared food, and clothing from Washington State's sales and use tax. The bill defines "prepared food" as items sold heated, with utensils provided, or mixed by the seller (excluding basic bakery items or raw ingredients), and specifies bottled water as calorie-free with minimal additives. It excludes soft drinks, dietary supplements, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and cannabis from the exemption. This policy change, if enacted, would eliminate tax on these specific consumer goods for all Washington residents and businesses selling them.
Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts bottled water, prepared food, and clothing from sales tax, reducing state revenue and weakening tax base.85% confidence
Phil Fortunato (R)
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5555: Concerning zoning regulations in commercial, retail, and mixed-use areas in cities and code cities.

SB 5555 requires cities and code cities in Washington to allow housing units in existing ground-floor commercial, retail, or mixed-use buildings within specific transit-accessible areas (e.g., within 1/2 mile of light rail stops or 1/4 mile of bus rapid transit stops). It removes parking requirements, limits density restrictions (allowing up to 50% more units within existing building envelopes), and eliminates design standards for residential conversions in qualifying buildings. The bill also mandates that cities permit taller buildings using mass timber products in commercial zones and prohibits requirements like transportation studies for such conversions. These changes apply to buildings with a certificate of occupancy at least three years old, directly affecting property owners, developers, and local zoning regulations in participating jurisdictions.
Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves zoning barriers for housing conversions in transit areas, increasing density and supply without parking requirements or design limits.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enables housing near transit stops (light rail/bus rapid transit), removes parking requirements, and allows denser development to promote transit-oriented communities and reduce car dependency.85% confidence
Jesse Salomon (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1176: Concerning greater consistency in the provision of health care services for minors under the age of 17.

HB 1176 allows 17-year-olds in Washington to consent to specific health services without parental permission. It expands existing rights for minors aged 17 and older to seek treatment for sexually transmitted infections/HIV, mental health care, and substance use disorders without parental consent. Healthcare facilities must notify parents in most cases but may withhold notification if they believe it would harm the minor, while still checking missing persons databases. The bill directly affects 17-year-olds seeking these services and requires healthcare providers to follow new consent and notification procedures.
Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands minors' access to mental health, STI/HIV, and substance use care without parental consent, improving patient access and protecting rights in healthcare services.95% confidence
Jim Walsh (R) · 4 co-sponsors
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