SB 6230 adjusts cash transaction prices to eliminate pennies by requiring rounding to the nearest 5 cents. It applies only to cash payments (legal tender), rounding prices ending in 1-2¢ or 6-7¢ down, and 3-4¢ or 8-9¢ up. The bill does not affect card, electronic, or check payments. It directly affects cash buyers and sellers in Washington State for all goods/services after taxes, discounts, and fees are applied. The law specifies clear rounding rules but excludes hybrid payment transactions, which require additional department rules.
SB 6177 requires Washington's legislative evaluation website to provide more detailed budget data to the public, directly affecting state agencies that manage spending and citizens seeking transparency. The bill mandates adding searchable access to specific spending categories (like agency programs, subprograms, and geographic project locations), historical budget data, and capital project details through an interactive map. Key provisions include requiring geographic search capabilities for projects by legislative district or county, adding project-specific financial data (total appropriation, description, expenditures), and ensuring the site is user-tested for accessibility. The website must update annually with new fiscal data while maintaining ten years of historical records. This bill focuses on expanding existing transparency requirements under RCW 44.48.150 without changing funding levels or policy outcomes.
SB 6249 requires Washington's Department of Corrections to supervise individuals convicted of stalking (RCW 9A.46.110) who are sentenced to community custody. This expands existing supervision requirements to include stalking offenders, who were previously not automatically covered under these specific provisions. The bill explicitly adds stalking to the list of offenses mandating department supervision, alongside existing categories like sex offenses and certain domestic violence convictions. This change applies to all stalking convictions regardless of risk assessment, ensuring these individuals receive structured post-sentence supervision. The legislation does not alter supervision standards for other offense types but clarifies that stalking offenders must be supervised under the same framework as other high-risk cases.
SB 6216 updates Washington's process for selling state lands and timber by standardizing advertising and notice requirements. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to publish sale notices online (replacing physical office postings) and in local newspapers, while making detailed land sale lists available online and at regional offices at least four weeks before sales. The bill clarifies that advertising is informational only (not a warranty of land details) and mandates sales occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays. These changes directly affect the Department of Natural Resources, potential buyers of state lands, and counties where sales occur, aiming to streamline procedures and improve accessibility.
This bill clarifies that Washington's Housing Finance Commission cannot make mortgage loans for owner-occupied single-family homes, except for down payment assistance programs. It ensures the Commission focuses on financing multifamily and nonowner-occupied housing while preserving private lenders' role in residential mortgage markets. The bill updates eligibility standards to consider income, family size, housing conditions, and energy efficiency for housing assistance programs. It also requires annual audits to verify bond funds support affordable housing and energy-efficient improvements as intended.
This bill amends Washington state law governing trainee real estate appraisers. It extends their registration period to a maximum of seven years (including two renewals), with exceptions for illness or military service documented by a healthcare provider. Trainees must now work exclusively under the direct supervision of a certified general or residential appraiser. The changes take effect May 1, 2027, and directly affect individuals seeking to become licensed appraisers in Washington.
SB 6250 increases Washington State's maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 (adjusted for inflation annually using the Seattle-area consumer price index), while also capping loans at 30% of a borrower's monthly income - whichever is lower. It limits borrowers to no more than eight small loans in any 12-month period and requires lenders to set due dates based on the borrower's pay schedule. The bill also restricts interest and fees to 15% on the first $500 of principal and 10% on amounts over $500, and prohibits lenders from charging additional fees for loan extensions. These changes directly affect small loan borrowers and licensed lenders operating under Washington's small loan regulations.
SB 6001 requires Washington's building code council to form a technical advisory group to recommend changes allowing "scissor stairs" (two interlocking stairways with separate exits) in multi-unit residential buildings with more than two permanent dwelling units. The group must evaluate health, safety, cost impacts, and provide recommendations for the 2027 building code update. This bill does not change current codes but sets a process for future updates affecting new construction in apartment-style buildings. The requirement expires on January 1, 2031.
This bill amends Washington state law to update requirements for local governments' comprehensive plans, directly affecting cities and counties that create such plans. It mandates that housing elements within these plans must address specific needs, including housing for low- and very low-income households, emergency shelters, and accessory dwelling units, while identifying barriers like infrastructure requirements that disproportionately impact infill housing. The bill also requires local plans to include strategies for environmental justice, wildfire risk mitigation (e.g., through land use planning), and policies to address racially disparate housing impacts and displacement risks. These changes aim to integrate housing affordability, equity, and climate resilience into local land use decisions.
SB 5962 prohibits carrying spring blade knives on public and private elementary and secondary school property, school transportation, and school district meeting areas in Washington State. The bill defines a "spring blade knife" as any knife with an automatic opening mechanism (via spring, gravity, or motion), excluding knives requiring manual effort to open. Violating this prohibition is a misdemeanor for first offenses, a gross misdemeanor for repeat offenses, and may lead to revocation of concealed pistol licenses. The law also specifies that school staff, security personnel, and certain authorized activities (like firearms safety courses) are exempt from the ban. This directly affects students, visitors, and staff on school grounds by restricting access to these specific knives.
SB 6053 establishes wage and working condition protections for domestic workers in Washington State, directly affecting nannies, home care workers, housekeepers, and similar employees working in private residences. Key provisions require hiring entities (private households or agencies) to provide written agreements detailing pay, hours, benefits, and termination notice (2 weeks for non-live-in workers, 4 weeks for live-in), pay at least the state minimum wage plus overtime for hours over 40, and prohibit wage theft like withholding pay without legal justification. The bill also mandates written notification before termination (with specific exceptions) and requires employers to maintain records for enforcement. These changes apply to domestic workers not performing casual labor or family-related tasks, ensuring clear, enforceable standards for this workforce.
SB 6069 requires Washington cities and counties to permit permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency shelters, and indoor emergency housing in any zoning area where hotels or residential development is allowed, without imposing extra restrictions beyond standard residential rules. It streamlines permitting by requiring local governments to apply the same development standards (like setbacks and environmental reviews) to these housing types as other lodging, while allowing minor community notification requirements for shelters (e.g., 500-foot notice and one meeting). The bill aims to increase housing supply for people experiencing homelessness by removing regulatory barriers, but does not override restrictions on building in natural hazard zones, agricultural land, or critical areas. It directly affects local zoning decisions and housing providers seeking to expand these services in urban growth areas.
