Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1521: Supporting caregivers who provide complex care services to children with heightened medical needs.

This bill requires Washington's health authority to pay home health agencies for complex medical care provided by family caregivers to children under 18 with significant medical needs. It mandates that caregivers (parents, guardians, or close family) complete 75 hours of training from an accredited agency, receive care supervision from a registered nurse, and work for a licensed home health agency. The program, effective September 2026, limits eligibility to the child's income only (not household income), prohibits caregivers from repaying training costs, and requires a 2029 report on the program's effectiveness. It covers specific medical tasks like medication administration, tracheostomy care, and feeding support provided under nursing supervision.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5216: Concerning green energy community funds to support school districts and nonprofit organizations that service the communities where renewable energy projects are located.

SB 5216 creates a program requiring renewable energy companies (wind/solar projects) to contribute 75% of their eligible tax credits to local school districts or community nonprofits where projects are located. This directly affects qualifying energy businesses and the communities hosting new renewable projects, with contributions due by October 1 each year. Key provisions include a $5 million statewide annual cap on contributions and a $250,000 annual limit per company, with credits available only for projects built after the bill’s effective date through 2034. The program expires December 31, 2036, ensuring local communities benefit from tax revenues generated by nearby renewable energy facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5481: Providing access to behavioral health services to children using licensed clinicians colocated within the school.

SB 5481 requires Washington state managed care organizations to reimburse schools for behavioral health services provided by licensed clinicians directly within school settings to Medicaid-enrolled students. This applies even if the service provider is not part of the managed care organization's network, unless equivalent in-network services are already available at the school. The bill aims to address barriers like transportation and stigma by making these services more accessible, particularly for children in rural or underserved communities. It updates state law (chapter 71.24 RCW) to mandate this reimbursement structure for school-based care.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1458: Reducing embodied carbon emissions of buildings and building materials.

HB 1458 requires large new construction, additions, and renovations (50,000+ square feet) to reduce embodied carbon emissions from building materials. It offers three compliance paths: reusing 45% of existing structures, demonstrating a 90% reduction in emissions for covered materials, or conducting a whole-building life-cycle assessment. Projects must report data through a public database managed by the Department of Commerce, including material choices and compliance methods. The law applies to all covered projects under the International Building Code and mandates verification by licensed design professionals.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1125: Providing judicial discretion to modify sentences in the interest of justice.

HB 1125 allows judges to modify lengthy prison sentences in Washington state when a person's original sentence no longer serves justice. It directly affects incarcerated individuals who meet specific criteria, such as having served 7+ years for an offense committed as a juvenile (starting July 2026), 10+ years for offenses committed as young adults (starting July 2031), or having a terminal illness. The bill requires petitioners to show rehabilitation or low recidivism risk, and courts may only reduce sentences (not increase them), must maintain mandatory minimums, and mandate a 6-month minimum wait after a hearing before release. The law also requires new sentences to include five years of community supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Tarra Simmons (D) · 35 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5119: Concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

SB 5119 expands collective bargaining rights to student-employees enrolled in academic or certificate programs at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It allows these employees to collectively bargain over specific workplace issues like compensation and tuition remission waivers, but excludes topics such as tuition rates, academic calendars, class sizes, and termination for academic reasons. The bill specifies that bargaining units must cover only one institution and cannot include employees already covered under other state labor laws. This legislation directly affects student-employees working at these four public universities who are simultaneously enrolled in academic programs.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1893: Concerning the establishment of liability standards for superior, district, and municipal court judges.

HB 1893 creates a new legal right for victims injured by individuals released before trial to sue judges who failed to properly assess public safety risks related to violent offenses. The bill requires judges to conduct written risk assessments analyzing the defendant’s violent history, potential victims, and alternatives to pretrial detention before releasing someone charged with a violent offense. It removes judicial immunity for such cases, making judges personally liable for damages if they recklessly ignored public harm risks, though the state may still cover defense costs unless the judge intentionally disregarded risks. The law directly affects victims of violence, judges making pretrial release decisions, and state/local governments handling legal defense costs. It applies only to cases arising after the bill’s effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1117: Removing the delegation of authority related to California motor vehicle emissions standards to generate new transportation revenue for the state by reducing administration burdens on the government and the people.

HB 1117 repeals Washington State's adoption of California's motor vehicle emissions standards, which had caused registration barriers for vehicles meeting federal standards. The bill directly affects vehicle owners who previously needed 407,541 exemptions to register their vehicles and government agencies managing registrations. Key provisions require the Department of Licensing to register previously prohibited vehicles (if they meet state requirements) and direct the Department of Ecology to repeal all rules implementing California standards. This eliminates administrative burdens on both the public and government, allowing vehicles to be registered without exemptions under federal standards. The bill takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Environment

Andrew Barkis (R) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1366: Authorizing military surplus vehicles to operate on public highways.

HB 1366 allows owners of military surplus vehicles (like decommissioned military trucks) to operate them on Washington public highways for specific purposes, including parades, veterans' events, car club activities, and exhibitions. The bill requires these vehicles to pass a safety inspection verifying original or equivalent safety equipment (headlamps, brakes, seat belts, etc.), carry liability insurance meeting minimum standards, and not be used for daily commuting. Owners must obtain a special collector license plate and comply with restrictions limiting use to occasional event participation. This modifies existing vehicle laws to create a defined exception for military surplus vehicles while maintaining safety and insurance requirements.

Topics ✓ Transportation ✓ Veterans

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1846: Modifying the fee disposition for the Seattle Sounders FC special license plate.

HB 1846 modifies how fees from Seattle Sounders FC special license plates are distributed. It redirects 70% of the remaining fees (after administrative costs) to the RAVE foundation, which uses soccer to support youth in underserved communities. The remaining 30% is capped at $40,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) and goes to the Washington state leadership board for educational and civic programs. This change updates the previous allocation that split funds between "Washington state mentors" and the leadership board. The bill does not alter the fee amount or create new requirements for the license plate.

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5113: Concerning cost-of-living adjustments for plan 1 retirees of the teachers' retirement system and public employees' retirement system.

SB 5113 establishes a new annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees in Plan 1 of Washington’s Teachers’ Retirement System and Public Employees’ Retirement System, effective July 2026. It uses the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index to calculate yearly increases, capping annual adjustments at 3% and ensuring payments never fall below the original benefit amount. The bill consolidates past COLA costs into a 15-year funding plan while keeping future benefit improvements on a standard 10-year amortization schedule. This directly affects current and future retirees in these systems who have been enrolled for at least one year, providing predictable, inflation-linked increases to their monthly retirement payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5204: Concerning ibogaine-assisted therapy.

SB 5204 requires the University of Washington to conduct a three-year study comparing ibogaine-assisted therapy (administered via licensed clinics in Mexico) to standard opioid use disorder treatments. The study will measure outcomes like reduced opioid use, mortality, cravings, and treatment engagement among adults with opioid use disorder. It directly affects the University of Washington, which must design and execute this research, and future patients if the therapy proves effective. The bill does not authorize ibogaine use but aims to evaluate its potential as an alternative to current treatments like methadone or buprenorphine.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results