Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1703: Establishing an equine industry tax credit, allowing the horse racing commission to impose a fee, and using equine industry sales tax revenues for federal regulatory compliance.

HB 1703 creates a tax credit for licensed horse racing venues in Washington, allowing them to offset state sales tax payments with amounts they pay to federal horseracing safety fees under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020. It also authorizes the Washington Horse Racing Commission to impose fees to cover federal compliance costs, with revenues deposited into a dedicated "Washington Equine Industry Federal Regulatory Account." The account receives up to $1.5 million annually from state sales tax revenues collected by class 1 racing associations, which must be used exclusively for federal regulatory fees. The bill takes effect in 2025 for fee authority and 2026 for the tax credit, aiming to streamline compliance with federal requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1940: Concerning the cannabis industry.

HB 1940 removes Washington's requirement that cannabis business owners must be state residents, which has limited investment options for social equity applicants. It creates a temporary tax exemption from the business and occupations tax for social equity cannabis businesses during their startup phase to help overcome funding barriers. The bill amends licensing laws (RCW 69.50.325 and 69.50.331) to eliminate residency restrictions and support low-income and minority entrepreneurs in accessing capital. These changes aim to align Washington's cannabis industry with national market competition and address inequities in business ownership.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5608: Adopting free speech policy statements at public institutions of higher education.

SB 5608 requires Washington's public universities, community colleges, and technical colleges to adopt written free speech policy statements aligned with the Chicago Principles. These policies must be developed with faculty and student input and explicitly commit to protecting open inquiry, respectful discussion of ideas, non-judgmental debate, and not obstructing expression. The bill mandates that institutions formally adopt these statements to uphold free expression principles, directly affecting all 34 public higher education institutions in the state. It does not alter existing speech laws but sets a standard for institutional policy.

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5514: Increasing compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standard.

SB 5514 modifies Washington's clean buildings performance standard to give building owners more flexible ways to comply. It adds alternative metrics like "embodied energy" (energy used in building materials) and extends reporting deadlines for large buildings over 10,000 square feet. The bill directly affects commercial building owners, public agencies managing facilities, and utilities that provide energy data. Key changes include updating definitions, clarifying reporting requirements for energy consumption data, and allowing alternative compliance pathways beyond standard energy use metrics. These adjustments aim to simplify adherence to the standard while maintaining environmental goals.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1548: Deterring robberies from cannabis retail establishments.

HB 1548 requires cannabis retail stores in Washington to report robbery attempts or incidents to the state board within 10 days. It also mandates that the board's enforcement officer regularly consult with the Washington State Patrol to identify patterns of robbery at these stores. The bill amends sentencing laws to require courts to make a special finding if someone robs a cannabis store by using a vehicle to damage it or by committing the robbery with others, which could lead to harsher penalties. This directly affects licensed cannabis retailers and impacts sentencing for specific types of robberies targeting these businesses. The law aims to improve reporting and law enforcement coordination to deter such crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2000: Regarding names to be included on the Washington state law enforcement memorial.

HB 2000 requires Washington's law enforcement memorial to include names of state officers deemed to have died "in the line of duty" under the federal Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 (as certified by the U.S. Department of Justice). It applies retroactively to officers who died on or after January 1, 2020, and mandates that once certified, their names be added to the memorial during the next scheduled wall update. This bill directly affects Washington law enforcement officers who qualify under the federal standard, ensuring their names are recognized on the state memorial. The change is procedural, focusing on administrative inclusion rather than altering benefits or policies.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1331: Increasing public safety by elevating the penalty for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance resulting in death.

HB 1331 changes the legal classification for cases where someone unlawfully delivers a controlled substance (like drugs) that causes the death of the person who used it. It reclassifies this as "manslaughter in the first degree" (a class A felony) under Washington law, instead of the previous penalty structure. This specifically affects individuals who deliver drugs that directly result in a user's death, such as in overdose cases. The bill repeals the existing "controlled substances homicide" penalty section (RCW 69.50.415) to implement this new classification. The change aims to strengthen penalties for drug dealers whose actions cause fatal outcomes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1861: Requiring notification of smoke impacts from department of natural resources-initiated or silvicultural burns.

HB 1861 requires Washington's Department of Natural Resources to provide real-time smoke impact notifications for government-led and silvicultural burns. It mandates that the department post on its website: burn start times, expected smoke effects updated every 12 hours, and specific alerts when smoke may affect low-income census tracts (identified by U.S. Census poverty data or federal environmental justice criteria). The bill also prohibits burning during declared air quality emergencies and strengthens requirements for compliance with air quality standards. These changes aim to help communities, especially those in disadvantaged areas with higher health vulnerabilities, make informed decisions about outdoor activities during burns.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1517: Providing a revenue stream to fund digital equity programs.

HB 1517 imposes a $2 tax on the retail sale of smart wireless devices (like smartphones, tablets, and laptops) priced over $250. The revenue collected will fund Washington's digital equity programs, specifically targeting underserved communities. This includes improving internet access, providing devices, and offering digital skills training for rural residents, seniors, veterans, low-income households, and others facing connectivity barriers. The tax applies to sellers who collect it from buyers at the point of sale, with funds deposited into a dedicated state digital equity account. The bill aims to address systemic gaps in digital access identified through legislative findings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1280: Concerning career and technical education in sixth grade.

HB 1280 amends Washington's school funding formula to require a 23:1 student-to-teacher ratio for career and technical education (CTE) programs in middle and high schools. This specifically affects sixth-grade students in middle school CTE programs by establishing a funding standard for class sizes. School districts receiving state basic education funds must allocate resources to maintain this ratio for CTE instruction. The bill modifies existing funding rules under RCW 28A.150.260 to include CTE class size requirements in the allocation formula. It does not mandate new CTE programs but sets parameters for funding existing or expanded middle school CTE offerings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1016: Providing employer tax incentives for the support of veterans and military families.

HB 1016 creates a 20% tax credit for Washington employers hiring qualified veterans or spouses of active-duty military members, up to $3,000 per employee annually. To qualify, employees must work full-time (35+ hours/week) for two consecutive quarters, and employers must claim credits electronically. The credit is capped at $5 million total per fiscal year across both this bill and a related provision, with credits expiring for tax years after 2036. This directly affects employers in Washington who hire eligible military-affiliated workers, aiming to incentivize veteran/military family employment through tax relief.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1508: Expanding revenue generation and economic opportunities from natural climate solutions and ecosystem services.

HB 1508 allows Washington State to generate new revenue by selling ecosystem service credits - like those for carbon sequestration or water filtration - from public lands. The Department of Natural Resources can contract with brokers or developers to sell these credits, but projects must be limited to afforestation, reforestation, or aquatic efforts and align with existing forest management policies. Revenue from these contracts must be deposited into state accounts, and the department must report project details and challenges by December 2026. The bill expires June 30, 2027, and explicitly prohibits projects from limiting tribal rights or conflicting with ongoing forest health efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Bill results