Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5353: Concerning the diabetes prevention and obesity treatment act.

SB 5353 requires Washington health insurance plans to cover obesity treatment as a chronic condition starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for three specific treatments: intensive behavioral/lifestyle programs, metabolic/bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved obesity medications. The bill prohibits insurers from imposing stricter coverage rules for obesity than for other medical conditions, ensuring equal treatment for deductibles, copays, and annual limits. This directly affects health insurers and people diagnosed with obesity in Washington state. The law aligns with FDA-approved treatments and clinical guidelines, defining covered services to prevent discriminatory coverage practices.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1593: Creating the children's social equity land trust.

HB 1593 creates a permanent Children's Social Equity Land Trust that uses revenue from sustainably managed state forest lands to fund child care programs. The trust acquires forested lands at fair market value (prioritizing lands at risk of non-forest conversion) and manages them for commercial forestry revenue, with all net income deposited into a dedicated child care trust account. This revenue will fund grants specifically targeting child care deserts and overburdened communities - areas with high need for affordable child care, particularly impacting low-income families and communities of color. The bill directly affects working parents and child care providers in these underserved areas by providing new funding streams for child care access.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1474: Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1.

HB 1474 increases monthly retirement benefits for specific retirees in Washington's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Plan 1 and Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Plan 1. Retirees receiving benefits as of certain dates (July 1, 2017-2024) will get a benefit increase equal to 1.5% or 3% of their current monthly benefit, capped at $62.50 or $110.00 depending on their eligibility date. The increases take effect on July 1 of the following year (e.g., benefits received as of July 1, 2023, get a 3% increase effective July 1, 2024). The bill excludes retirees covered under other retirement provisions and takes immediate effect due to an emergency declaration.

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5727: Incentivizing grid-connected residential battery energy storage systems.

SB 5727 requires large utilities (with over 100,000 customers) in Washington to create incentive programs for homeowners to install grid-connected residential battery storage systems. It mandates that at least 40% of incentives target low- and moderate-income households, with programs including either time-of-use electricity rates or integration into utility-run virtual power plants. The bill specifies that incentives must lower customers' annual energy costs and prohibits data sales beyond program operations. It aims to increase grid resilience during outages while supporting clean energy goals through utility-administered programs.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5674: Concerning manufacturing facilities.

SB 5674 provides property tax exemptions for new or expanded manufacturing facilities in Washington state. It exempts eligible buildings, equipment, and land from property taxes for six years (or eight years for certified "green" facilities or those exporting through Washington seaports) after a facility becomes operational. To qualify, manufacturers must file claims with county assessors, and exemptions cannot be renewed. The law applies to taxes levied from 2026 through 2035 and expires on January 1, 2036.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5792: Concerning temporary compensation reductions for state government employees during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

SB 5792 mandates a 4.98% temporary salary reduction for most state government employees (excluding certain roles) during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It exempts elected officials (who may voluntarily reduce salaries), employees at state universities, specialized staff (like Washington State Patrol officers), and those earning under $2,500 monthly. The bill requires agencies to use options like temporary leave (8.67 hours/month) or reduced hours if collective bargaining agreements prevent direct salary cuts, while ensuring minimum wage protections. It applies specifically to the 2025-2026 period within the broader 2025-2027 budget cycle.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1830: Concerning record checks for certain volunteers and contractors who will have access to children or persons with developmental disabilities.

HB 1830 requires schools, educational organizations, and their contractors to conduct fingerprint-based background checks through Washington State Patrol and FBI systems for employees and volunteers with regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children under 18 or people with developmental disabilities. This applies to volunteers working with small groups (5 or fewer children under 12, 3 or fewer aged 12-18, or individuals with developmental disabilities) without supervision from staff or guardians. Existing background checks conducted within the previous two years may be used instead of new checks, and costs include state/federal fees plus administrative charges. The bill specifies the process for conducting checks, limits database access, and outlines disqualification notification procedures.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1945: Establishing an office of the crime victims ombuds.

HB 1945 creates an independent office of the crime victims ombuds to advocate for individuals impacted by crime. The office will be operated by a private, nonprofit organization selected through a competitive bidding process by the Department of Commerce, not as a state agency. Key duties include referring victims to appropriate services, investigating complaints about justice system failures, protecting victim confidentiality, and monitoring service delivery procedures. The office expires July 1, 2027, and operates outside existing state government structures.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1852: Prohibiting local governments from transferring real property to nongovernment entities without fair consideration.

HB 1852 requires cities, counties, and code cities in Washington to receive fair market value (or equivalent compensation) when transferring or selling real property to non-government entities or individuals. The bill applies to all local government-owned real property transfers, ensuring such transactions cannot occur at below-market rates without justification. It exempts state forestlands, federally granted educational lands, and properties subject to bond covenants. This policy change directly affects local governments' ability to dispose of surplus public land, mandating fair compensation to prevent undervalued sales.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1581: Increasing the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax.

HB 1581 increases a tax on communication services to fund Washington's 988 behavioral health crisis line. It raises the tax rate to 70 cents per month for radio access lines, VoIP services, and switched access lines starting in 2026, up from current rates of 40 cents (2023-2025). The tax applies to subscribers and providers of these services within Washington, with proceeds deposited into a dedicated crisis response account. The funding supports suicide prevention and crisis care services, aiming to reduce reliance on emergency rooms and law enforcement for mental health emergencies. The bill does not change existing services but adjusts tax rates to sustain and expand the 988 system.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1455: Funding the state toxicology laboratories to process submissions for drug and alcohol impairment cases in a timely manner.

HB 1455 requires Washington's state toxicology laboratories to process drug and alcohol impairment case samples within one week of receipt. The bill directly affects state toxicology labs, the Washington State Patrol, and individuals facing drug/alcohol impairment charges. It mandates the State Patrol to hire sufficient staff to meet this timeline and requires the chief to submit annual funding requests to the Appropriations committees for this purpose. This law creates a concrete deadline for processing times and ties lab funding to that requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5518: Authorizing funding tools to mitigate the impact of sales tax sourcing in certain cities that host industrial and warehousing industries.

SB 5518 authorizes cities with over 120,000 residents in high-population counties (≥1.5 million) and at least 25% industrial/warehousing zoning to impose a new 0.3% sales tax. The tax, collected by the state at no cost to the city, must be used to improve community vitality in areas negatively impacted by sales tax sourcing laws. Cities must hold public meetings, maintain a budget transparency webpage, and conduct surveys before implementing the tax, which can only begin after July 1, 2025, and last up to 20 years. This bill directly affects specific industrial/warehousing communities near Seattle/Tacoma ports, aiming to offset fiscal challenges from existing tax structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results