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Washington Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 16,751 Active 3,787 In committee 9,316 Passed 3,263 Signed 3,665 Failed 959

Bill results

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 6041: Updating personality rights protections.

SB 6041 updates Washington State's law to clarify that individuals (living and deceased) have a permanent property right to control the use of their name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness. The bill ensures these rights do not expire after death and can be transferred through wills, trusts, contracts, or passed to heirs under state law. It specifically applies to people whose image had commercial value (a "personality"), even if they didn’t personally exploit it during life. The law defines key terms like "deceased personality" to cover those whose identity retained commercial value after death, regardless of their domicile. This change affects all Washington residents and their successors, streamlining how these rights are managed and enforced posthumously.
Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects digital rights by granting permanent control over image/likeness (a core digital right) in commercial contexts, relevant to online use and digital identity protection.80% confidence
Lisa Wellman (D) · 2 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2286: Concerning alternative routes to social worker licensure.

HB 2286 creates an alternative pathway to social worker licensure in Washington for applicants seeking a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) license. It allows candidates to fulfill the standard 3,000-hour supervised experience requirement through "enhanced supervision" instead of passing the typical exam, provided they receive an attestation of competence from an approved supervisor. This change directly affects social work professionals completing their supervised experience, particularly those who may face barriers to taking the standard exam. The bill modifies existing licensing rules to specify that enhanced supervision must include at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact and detailed supervision requirements, including 100 hours of direct supervision by a qualified mental health practitioner.
Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 2286 creates alternative licensure for clinical social workers, expanding mental health workforce access and aligning with mental health service support indicators.90% confidence
Alicia Rule (D) · 3 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2313: Concerning publicly owned grocery stores.

HB 2313 authorizes Washington cities to establish publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas with food access gaps. Cities can acquire property (including via eminent domain), apply for state capital grants covering building rehabilitation and 24-hour "food locker systems," and use tax increment financing to fund store development and infrastructure. The bill requires annual reporting on financial status, community access, jobs created, and for third-party operated stores, sales data and compliance with contractual benchmarks like local produce sourcing. This directly affects cities seeking to address food insecurity through municipal grocery initiatives.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses state capital grants and tax increment financing (TIF) to fund grocery store development in underserved areas, directly advancing public service funding through fiscal mechanisms.95% confidence
Darya Farivar (D) · 23 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2513: Enforcing plumbing contractor requirements.

HB 2513 increases penalties for plumbing contractors who violate regulations, raising the minimum first-time fine from $100 to $500 for contractors (compared to $100 for individuals). It establishes stricter suspension rules: three residential plumbing infractions in 36 months may lead to a two-year license suspension, while five or more infractions in five years could trigger the same penalty. Penalties collected must be deposited into a plumbing certificate fund, and administrative judges cannot reduce these fines. The bill directly affects licensed plumbing contractors performing residential work by imposing clearer financial consequences for repeated violations.
Suzanne Schmidt (R) · 2 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2098: Adjusting higher education funding.

HB 2098 imposes a surcharge on select large tech companies with global revenue over $25 billion, increasing the rate from 1.22% (2020-2025) to 7.5% (starting 2026) on their taxable gross income. The surcharge applies to businesses engaged in "advanced computing" (including cloud services, software, and platforms), excluding hospitals, health clinics, and certain telecom or financial firms. Revenues from the surcharge fund workforce education programs, with automatic enrollment increases in computer science and engineering degrees at state universities when demand exceeds capacity by 100+ students. The bill also requires quarterly reporting and includes penalties for evasion, while exempting specific healthcare providers from the tax.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 7.5% surcharge on large tech firms to fund workforce education programs, directly increasing tax revenue for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill imposes surcharge on large tech firms to fund workforce education programs with automatic enrollment increases, directly boosting education funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce education programs with automatic enrollment increases, directly supporting worker skills development and employment opportunities.90% confidence
Julia Reed (D) · 18 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 5893: Addressing appropriations for long-term forest health and wildfire reduction.

SB 5893 appropriates an additional $65 million from the natural climate solutions account for the 2026 fiscal year to support forest health and wildfire reduction programs. The bill addresses a funding shortfall identified in previous legislation (chapter 298, Laws of 2021), which lacked sufficient resources to fully implement forest restoration and wildfire mitigation efforts. This funding specifically targets the "wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account" to cover the $125 million needed for the 2025-2027 biennium. The bill does not create new policy but allocates existing funds to fulfill previously authorized program needs.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $65M from natural climate account to fund forest health/wildfire programs, increasing state budget allocation for environmental initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds forest restoration and wildfire mitigation via $65M appropriation, directly advancing environmental protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence
Shelly Short (R) · 4 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2117: Adding a tribal member to the board of natural resources.

HB 2117 adds a seventh member to Washington's Board of Natural Resources, specifically a tribal representative appointed by the governor from federally recognized tribes in the state. The bill amends the board's composition to include this position, requiring the governor to consult with tribes during appointments and ensuring the representative serves a four-year term starting July 1, 2026. This change directly affects the board's decision-making process on natural resource management and requires collaboration with tribal nations. The bill aims to incorporate tribal perspectives and expertise into state forestland and natural resource policies.
Chris Stearns (D) · 27 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2183: Requiring counties to develop and implement heat response plans.

HB 2183 requires all Washington counties to create and adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027. Each plan must include immediate response strategies, long-term adaptation measures (like building upgrades and cooling assistance), and specific protections for vulnerable groups including seniors, outdoor workers, low-income households, and children. Counties must also establish tribal partnerships, public education programs, medical emergency protocols, and systems to track heat-related illnesses. Existing plans meeting these standards are exempt from the 2027 deadline, and counties must review plans during regular comprehensive plan updates.
Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires counties to implement heat response plans with adaptation measures and protections for vulnerable groups, directly addressing climate change impacts on public health and safety.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical emergency protocols and protections for vulnerable groups during heat events, advancing public health response as part of healthcare infrastructure.85% confidence
Lisa Parshley (D) · 18 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 5927: Capping the rate of increase for future workers' compensation cost-of-living adjustments.

SB 5927 caps the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for certain workers' compensation pensions at 3%, replacing the current system that tied adjustments to annual changes in Washington's average monthly wage. It directly affects workers receiving pensions under pre-1971 compensation schedules, including surviving spouses and permanently disabled workers. The key change modifies how pension payments are adjusted each year - limiting increases to 3% regardless of actual wage fluctuations, which have previously ranged from 2% to 10.1% annually. This aims to stabilize program costs after cumulative premium increases exceeded 22% since 2020, while maintaining existing benefit formulas.
Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentCaps COLA at 3% instead of wage-linked, reducing pension adjustments for affected workers, weakening benefit growth.95% confidence
Mark Schoesler (R) · 1 co-sponsor
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2099: Expanding access to the early childhood education and assistance program for military families.

HB 2099 expands Washington State's early childhood education and childcare assistance program to include military-connected children who don't qualify under standard eligibility rules. It creates a new pathway for children from military families (active duty, reserves, or National Guard members stationed or residing in Washington) with family incomes above 50% but below the maximum for Working Connections childcare, as long as space and funding are available. The bill requires prioritization of these children using the same existing risk-factor system that considers income, child welfare involvement, domestic violence, and other factors linked to school readiness. This new category does not count toward the state's existing entitlement program, and the changes expire on August 1, 2030.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for military families' children in early childhood programs, directly increasing support for vulnerable students through new eligibility pathways.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands childcare access for military families, enabling employment by addressing a key barrier to workforce participation for this specific group.85% confidence
Mari Leavitt (D) · 26 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2182: Improving access to abortion medications.

HB 2182 authorizes Washington's Department of Health to directly acquire, distribute, and dispense abortion medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) to healthcare providers and entities offering reproductive care, including abortion services. The bill creates a state-run program to prioritize bulk distribution to clinics and hospitals, allowing the department to sell medications at cost (plus a $5 per dose fee for secure handling) or free in 2025, with revenues going to the general fund. This directly affects healthcare providers who can now receive these medications through the state program and patients seeking abortion care. The law exempts the department from needing a wholesaler's license for these activities under specific state laws.
Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state program to distribute abortion medications, directly improving access to reproductive healthcare services and expanding patient access to essential health care.95% confidence
Brianna Thomas (D) · 29 co-sponsors
in committee · Washington · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 2190: Concerning language access providers' collective bargaining.

HB 2190 grants language access providers (like interpreters for state agencies) the right to collectively bargain with the governor as their employer, but only for specific services. It creates three statewide bargaining units: one for health/social services appointments, one for workers' compensation/crime victims, and one for other state agency services. Bargaining is limited to pay, training, grievance procedures, and benefits - excluding retirement - and requires the governor to request funding approval from the legislature for any agreement. The bill clarifies these providers are not state employees for other purposes and includes strict budget processes for implementing agreements.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires governor to request funds for language access providers' collective bargaining on pay/benefits, mandating budget allocation for essential state services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights to language access providers for pay, benefits, and grievance procedures, directly advancing workers' rights in labor negotiations.95% confidence
Julio Cortes (D) · 23 co-sponsors
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