Gov. Ferguson signs 50 bills into state law on Saturday

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Fifty bills were signed into Washington state law on Saturday by Gov. Bob Ferguson. This is in addition to the dozens he signed into law earlier this week. 

Here’s what you should know about the bills that became law in Washington state today:

HB 1102

This bill increases support and services for veterans. 

The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) will be required to provide information about available benefits and services to recently discharged veterans. 

More counties will be eligible for the WDVA’s Veterans Service Officer Program, which funds Veterans Service Officers in certain counties. Counties with the lowest percentage of veterans receiving those benefits will be prioritized for participation in the program. 

The WDVA will be required to provide reports every two years, including county-specific information about the number of resident veterans and services available.

HB 1371

This bill grants parking privileges for people with disabilities to veterans who use a service animal or have a qualifying discharge with a 70% disability rating or higher from the US Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

HB 1264

This bill requires the Office of Financial Management to compare Washington State Ferry worker groups with specifically enumerated groups of employees when completing a salary survey for the use of collective bargaining negotiations. 

HB 1733

This bill increases the reimbursement cap for moving and relocation expenses incurred by people affected by agency displacements. The Washington State Department of Transportation will be required to annually adjust the increased cap for inflation beginning on Aug. 1, 2025. 

HB 1878

This bill makes driver’s ed a requirement for 18-21 year olds looking to get their driver’s license. 

Currently, people over the age of 18 only have to take the driver’s test to earn a license, but beginning in 2027, that will change. 

The requirements will be phased in over the next five years, with drivers 18 years of age required to take driver’s ed beginning in 2027, for 19-year-olds in 2028, for 20-year-olds in 2029, and 21-year-olds in 2030.

SB 5595

This bill allows cities to designate “shared streets” where pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic share a portion or all of the same street. 

On a “shared street,” the maximum speed limit is set to 10 miles per hour. 

Cities that designate shared streets must share annual reports that include information on traffic accidents, the number of speeding violations and the number of driving under the influence violations that occur on shared streets. 

There are some traffic provisions that do not apply on a shared street: 

• The conditions and limitations regarding pedestrians walking on roadways do not apply. 
• The rules governing vehicles overtaking and passing pedestrians and bicyclists do not apply.
• The rules governing pedestrians crossing roadways do not apply.
• Certain operating requirements when cycling upon a roadway do not apply. 

HB 1096

This bill requires cities to establish an administrative approval process for a lot split, which may be combined with concurrent review of a residential building permit for new single-family or middle housing. 

HB 1109

This bill extends the authorization for two state-shared local sales and use taxes for regional centers from 40 years to 55 years. 

HB 1162

This bill requires health care settings to conduct timely investigations of workplace violence incidents and to annually update workplace violence prevention plans based on investigation findings, an analysis of systemic and common causes of workplace violence incidents, and other factors. 

HB 1213

This bill expands protections for workers utilizing the state Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. 

The bill lowers the employer size threshold for employment protection rights in the PFML and provides an employee with protection if he or she began employment with a qualifying employer at least 180 calendar days before taking leave. Health care coverage protection during any period in which an employee receives PFML benefits and is also entitled to employment protection is expanded.

Small employers will have better access to grants to offset the costs of employees’ use of the PFML program. 

HB 1382

This bill modernizes the all-payers claims database by updating reporting requirements, data disclosure standards and lead organization requirements. 

HB 1440

This bill makes changes to existing laws governing seizure and forfeiture proceedings and reporting. 

These changes included serving notice of seizure and possible forfeiture upon the owner of seized property within 15 days, establishing a hearing process for seized property, and specifying the disposition of proceeds from the sale of seized property. 

HB 1573

This bill revises the period in which the oath of office must be taken for elective offices of counties, cities, towns and special purpose districts. 

The oath may now be taken any time between the date of the certification of the election and the day before the term of office begins. 

HB 1633

This bill makes changes to how subcontractors may be added to public works projects and their licensing requirements. 

HB 1651

This bill establishes and describes requirements for both a teacher residency and a teacher apprenticeship model of teacher preparation. 

HB 1990 

This bill authorizes utility companies to securitize certain costs related to disasters or emergencies to lower costs to customers. 

SB 5284

This bill requires producers of packaging and paper products to take part in the state’s Producer Responsibility Program. 

The Producer Responsibility Program requires producers to participate in the stewardship organization or program responsible for the collection, transport and end-of-life management of their products. 

So far these products include electronics, light bulbs that contain mercury, photovoltaic solar panels, pharmaceuticals, paint, batteries, and now paper and packaging products.

Paper and packaging producers have until Jan. 1, 2026, to appoint a producer responsibility organization (PRO), which must register with the state Department of Ecology. One person, either from the material’s manufacturer, brand licensee, brand owner, importer of record, distributor of the material in Washington or another person assigned contractual responsibility as a producer, will be defined as the producer responsible for participating in the PRO. 

By Sept. 1, 2026, the PRO must make a one-time payment to Ecology to cover program costs through June 30, 2027. Annual registration fees will be paid after. 

HB 1154

This bill allows the Department of Ecology to participate in ensuring landfill compliance with state regulations and imposing civil fees if facilities are out of compliance. 

The Department of Ecology will have the authority to approve all permits for a landfill prior to issuance or renewal by a jurisdictional health department. Ecology may also suspend permits and impose fines for a solid waste handling facility that is operating in violation of solid waste management requirements. 

Prime Sponsor Rep. Davina Duerr testified that there are “quite a few landfills that are out of compliance” in Yakima, and have been for a long time because of a lack of ability to enforce the environmental regulations these landfills were breaking. The bill allows Ecology an enforcement mechanism that will compel the landfills to come into compliance with state laws. 

HB 1293

This bill raises the penalty for littering to a class 2 civil infraction, which has a base penalty of $125, in addition to a $93 base penalty for throwing or dropping material onto state highways, where relevant. 

This bill also delays a 4 mil increase in the allowable thickness of a reusable plastic carryout bag by retail establishments until January 1, 2028. Establishments that do offer for sale reusable plastic bags with a thickness of at least 4 mils will be required to collect a 4-cent penalty in addition to the 12-cent pass-through charge, which will be deposited into the Waste Reduction, Recycling and Litter Control Account.

HB 1462

This bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons by transitioning to environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives. 

Between 2030 and 2033, global warming potential (GWP) limits for newly produced bulk hydrofluorocarbons entering commerce in Washington will be phased in. The Department of Ecology is directed to establish a refrigerant transition task force to complete a study by 2027 addressing the transition to low-GWP refrigerants, and to adopt rules no earlier than 2028 to require low-GWP or ultra-GWP refrigerants. 

HB 1497

This bill establishes and amends various requirements and programs related to food waste and wasted food, organic materials management and solid waste.

HB 1670

This bill requires the Department of Ecology to make certain sewage spill information publicly available via a website.

SB 5033

This bill requires the Department of Ecology to begin testing for PFAS chemicals in certain biosolids within the next few years. Ecology will analyze and provide a report to the legislature by July 1, 2029. 

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials derived from processing domestic sewage in a treatment facility. These biosolids can be used as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. 

SB 5212

This bill makes changes to the filing of adjudication claims for precode uses of groundwater and surface water in the Water Resource Inventory Area 1 water rights adjudication. 

HB 1409

This bill amends the carbon intensity reduction requirements for transportation fuels under the Clean Fuels Program (CFP). 

Penalties and other enforcement powers specific to the CFP are established. 

The Department of Ecology will be required to publish analyses and forecasts of CFP credit markets. 

HB 1975

This bill amends the Climate Commitment Act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the Department of Ecology’s authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions and providing for market dynamic analysis. 

HB  2003

This bill requires a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement for any person 15 or older fishing recreationally for steelhead or salmon in the Columbia River and its tributaries. 

Proceeds from the endorsement will go toward facilitating recreational salmon and steelhead selective fishing opportunities on the Columbia River and its tributaries, including monitoring, hatchery production, pinniped removal and enforcement.

SB 5653

This bill adds lieutenants and captains to the list of Department of Fish and Wildlife officers who are eligible for interest arbitration under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act. 

SB 5390

This bill increases the cost of the Discover Pass from $30 to $45, adds a Lifetime Veterans’ Disability Pass as an equivalent to a Discover Pass, and removes an exemption for Lifetime Veterans’ Disability Pass recipients from payment of campsite reservation fees.

This bill was signed by the governor but partially vetoed. 

A section of the bill would have created a work group to review how recreation and park functions are currently funded for the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources, however that was rejected by the governor. 

HB 1539

This bill establishes the Wildlife Mitigation and Resiliency Standards Work Group, which will be in charge of studying and making recommendations on the following: 

• Development and alignment of wildfire property mitigation standards with nationally recognized, science-based standards
• Enhancing wildfire mitigation at the community level 
• Sharing data between appropriate state agencies and the insurance industry regarding the successful implementation of wildfire mitigation efforts
• Improving transparency for consumers regarding wildfire hazard and risk
• Establishing a homeowner grant program for purposes such as retrofitting and evaluations, with framework recommendations for decreasing insurance nonrenewals

HB 1473

This bill appropriates more than $77 million from the Budget Stabilization Account for fire suppression costs incurred by the Department of Natural Resources during the 2024 fire season.

SB 5583

This bill increases recreational hunting and fishing licenses by approximately 38% overall, with exemptions to limit the increase on seniors and for certain packages of licenses. A senior rate is established for hunting licenses, offering an estimated 66% discount from the regular licensing fee. 

SB 5319

This bill establishes surface mine reclamation permit fees

SB 5334

This bill adds the Department of Natural Resources’ civil enforcement decisions under RCW 76.04.205 to appeals that may be heard by the Pollution Control Hearings Board. 

SB 5014

This makes a number of modifications to tighten up election security in Washington. 

Systems or part of a system used in the conduct of elections will be subject to approval from the Secretary of State prior to use. 

This bill sets forth security breach disclosure requirements for organizations contracted to provide support to, or manufacturers or distributors of, the voter registration database system or official voter list, or both. 

This bill mandates cybersecurity measures to be implemented by each county auditor, including partitioning, by July 1, 2027, unless, after consultation, the deadline is extended by the Secretary of State for a county auditor to comply. 

SB 5077

This bill directs the governor’s office to decide, in consultation with the Secretary of State, as to whether state agencies that collect, possess and store personal information may implement an automatic voter registration process, or may implement automatic updates of voter registration. In both cases, implementation must substantially meet the DOL requirements for enhanced driver’s licenses and enhanced identity cards.

Contingent on federal approval, the Health Benefit Exchange may transmit personal information to the Secretary of State for purposes of automatic voter registration. 

Pending the governor’s approval, the Department of Corrections may provide voter registration applications, then tramsit that information to a county auditor, which will be classified as pending until such time that the person will be eligible to vote. 

SB 5079

This bill addresses the burden of unintentional overpayments to older adults and adults with disabilities served by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). 

DSHS will be allowed to waive collection of overpayments of the Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Assistance Program and to functionally disabled clients receiving services and supports through Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports and the Developmental Disability Administration waiver programs. 

SB 5127

This bill puts additional requirements on collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates to improve compliance and public safety. 

This includes requiring a particular insurance policy, and that owners have a second registered vehicle for daily use. 

SB 5168

This bill eliminates the State Actuary Appointment Committee and moves its duties to the Pension Funding Council. 

SB 5192

This bill provides more funds for materials, supplies and operating costs for schools, and provides that the amount allocated for those materials must be adjusted annually for inflation. 

SB 5361

This bill delays the use of ASAM 4 criteria and treatment criteria for addictive, substance-related, and co-occurring conditions. 

SB 5370

This bill allows port district commissioner terms to be increased from four to six years through a ballot proposition. 

SB 5394

This bill allows the Department of Social and Health Services Developmental Disabilities Administration to provide limited case resource management services for clients on the No-Paid Services caseload. 

SB 5463

This bill applies the duty of good faith and fair dealing to all workers’ compensation self-insurers and third-party administrators, rather than only self-insured municipal employers, self-insured private sector firefighter employers and their third-party administrators. 

The Department of Labor and Industries will be allowed to withdraw any self-insurer’s certification when the self-insurer has been found to violate this duty three times within three years, rather than just the certification of a municipal self-insurer.

SB 5478

This bill permits the Public Employees’ Benefits Board to study and, subject to available funding, offer additional insurance products as employee-paid, voluntary benefits. 

SB 5516

This bill expands the property tax exemption for community centers to include surplus property and buildings of a nonprofit university acquired by a nonprofit organization. 

SB 5672

This bill requires the Department of Health to adopt rules allowing long-term care workers additional time to become certified as the State Auditor’s Office completes its 2026 Initiative 1163 performance audit and provides recommendations for the Legislature’s consideration. 

Long-term care workers will be exempt from being required to be certified as a home care aid within 200 days of the hiring date. 

SB 5769

This bill limits Transition to Kindergarten Program funding beginning in the 2025-2026 school year to the funded level in the Omnibus Appropriations Act. 

SB 5786

This bill increases fees for specified liquor licenses, permits and endorsements. 

SB 5790

This bill changes the index used for the annual cost-of-living adjustment for certain employees at community and technical colleges to the Implicit Price Deflator, from the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index.

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