House Joint Memorial 4001 proposes naming the future 34th Avenue East overpass in the City of Fife as the Russ Blount Memorial Bridge. This action would honor Russ Blount for his two decades of public service and leadership on transportation issues in Washington State, Pierce County, and the City of Fife.
HB 2073 requires nonprofit health insurance carriers in Washington State to contribute a portion of their excessive surplus to a state fund that supports health insurance premium assistance for residents. Specifically, carriers must report their surplus by July 1, 2026, and if their surplus exceeds 600% of required risk-based capital (RBC), they must pay 3% of the excess amount to the state health care affordability account by October 1, 2026. This fund will administer premium assistance programs under existing law to help residents afford health insurance. The law applies directly to nonprofit health carriers operating in Washington and takes effect January 1, 2026.
HB 1066 requires the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board to establish and annually update a public online data dashboard. This dashboard will track various information related to regulated substances such as liquor, cannabis, cigarettes, tobacco products, and vapor products. It will include data on compliance rates for sales to minors, citations issued, youth usage, health impacts, prevention program funding, and collected taxes and fees. The board, in consultation with the Department of Health and Health Care Authority, must implement this within existing resources, meaning no new funds or staff will be allocated for its creation or maintenance.
HB 1823 updates Washington’s Transportation Improvement Board rules and funding processes. It requires counties, cities, or transportation districts to provide written certification of local/private funding within one year of project approval, or funds may be reallocated. The bill clarifies board membership requirements, including population thresholds for city/county representatives and specific roles for transit, port, and active transportation advocates. Projects must align with the Growth Management Act, Clean Air Act, and other transportation planning standards to qualify for funding. These changes directly affect local governments seeking state transportation funds.
Senate Bill 5360 establishes new criminal offenses related to water pollution in Washington state, affecting individuals and various entities, including government agencies. The bill defines three degrees of violation for the water pollution control act, differentiating them by the level of intent and harm. A first-degree violation involves knowingly causing imminent danger, a second-degree violation involves knowingly violating without imminent danger, and a third-degree violation involves negligent violations. Each degree carries specific penalties, ranging from a Class B felony for the first degree to a gross misdemeanor for the third degree.
This bill, SB 5536, clarifies how real property and associated debts are handled during the dissolution of a marriage or domestic partnership, directly affecting divorcing or separating couples and their creditors. It ensures that court orders regarding the ownership and disposition of real property are enforceable by either party and must be adhered to by creditors. Additionally, the bill directs courts to specifically consider the costs associated with preparing real property for sale, such as taxes and fees, and to assess the potential for homelessness for a spouse and children when making decisions about the family home.
Senate Joint Memorial 8006 petitions the Washington State Supreme Court to reinstate and expand its Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) program. The memorial asks the Court to reverse its 2020 decision to end the program, citing a current shortage of attorneys and a need for legal services among low and moderate-income Washingtonians. It specifically requests the expansion of LLLT services within one year to include administrative law, eviction, and debt assistance. Additionally, the memorial asks for a work group to be formed to explore how LLLTs could help individuals charged with offenses in courts of limited jurisdiction. The aim is to increase access to legal representation for those facing legal challenges.
Senate Bill 5109 increases the fee collected when a deed of trust, a common real estate document, is recorded. The bill raises this fee from one dollar to five dollars, directly affecting those who record such documents. Funds collected, minus a small portion for county administration, are deposited into the mortgage lending fraud prosecution account. These funds are specifically designated to support criminal prosecution of fraudulent activities within the mortgage lending process. Additionally, the bill removes the previous expiration date, making both the fee and the prosecution account permanent.
HB 1717 creates a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing projects in Washington. It allows cities and counties to adopt programs where developers of qualifying projects (with at least 50% units for low-income households at 30-38% of income for 40 years) can defer paying local sales taxes on construction costs. Developers must apply to local governments, meet affordability requirements, and complete projects within three years (extendable to five total), with local authorities setting application rules and oversight. The program directly affects nonprofit and for-profit housing developers, public housing authorities, and low-income households in qualifying projects.
HB 1073 creates the Washington National Guard Retention Program to help the state retain military personnel. It directs the Adjutant General to study retention needs - such as length of service and critical skills - and determine reenlistment bonuses to encourage members to extend their service. The program requires clear eligibility criteria and bonus payment schedules, with the state military department mandated to report on retention needs to the governor and legislature every three years starting in 2027. The bill directly affects Washington National Guard members who may qualify for reenlistment bonuses.
HB 1269 amends Washington State law regarding pawnbroker fees, interest rates, and loan terms, directly affecting pawnbrokers and individuals taking out pawn loans. The bill increases the maximum interest rate for loans of $100 or more from 4% to 5% per 30-day period. It also raises the general storage fee and firearm storage fee from $5 to $10 each. Key provisions include shortening the standard loan term and the period before unredeemed property can be sold from 90 days to 60 days. Additionally, the bill revises the structure for loan preparation fees and allows for online payment services for rewritten loans.
Senate Bill 5816 expands the types of agricultural products covered under Washington state's producer-handler negotiation framework. It specifically adds "juice grapes," defined as grapes intended for nonfermented juice products, to the list of crops for which producers can collectively negotiate prices and contract terms with handlers and processors. This ensures that juice grape producers have access to the established process for negotiating fair prices and other contract conditions. The bill also specifies that negotiations for juice grapes must begin at least 60 days before their normal harvest date and conclude within 30 days of it.
