Transportation

Senate Bill 5595 allows local authorities to designate certain nonarterial highways as "shared streets," which are areas where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles share the roadway. On these designated streets, vehicular traffic must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility devices, and bicyclists/micromobility users must yield to pedestrians. The bill also permits local authorities to establish a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour on shared streets without requiring an engineering study. Additionally, local authorities must publish annual reports on traffic accidents, speeding, and DUI violations occurring on these shared streets.

Senate Bill 5528 requires electricians installing electric vehicle charging equipment on public works projects in Washington State to be certified by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or a similar nationally recognized program. This ensures consistent safety and effectiveness standards for the electrical components of these installations and maintenance. The requirement applies only if the certification program is open to all general journeyman level electricians. Apprentices are exempt when supervised by a certified journeyman, and installations contracted before January 1, 2026, are also excluded.

Substitute House Bill 1244 provides an alternative to driver's license suspension for Washington drivers who accumulate multiple moving traffic infractions. Under this bill, instead of serving a full 60-day license suspension, drivers can complete a required safe driving course either after receiving notice of a pending suspension or during the suspension period. Completing the course allows for the early termination of the suspension, though a one-year probation period still applies. This early termination option is available to a driver once every five years.