Essential information on each bill is below. For more details, click on the bill number – e.g., “SB 5000.” The new page will show the progress of the bill, videos of debate, and the link to send a comment to your legislator about the bill.
Bill Summary
Bill 1403 is a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve homeownership opportunities in Washington State by revising the laws governing condominium construction. It introduces implied warranties for both existing and newly constructed condominium units, ensuring they meet quality standards. For units created before the bill’s effective date, the declarant and dealers must guarantee that the units and common elements are suitable for ordinary use and free from defects. For units created after the effective date, similar warranties apply, with added requirements for compliance with approved plans and building codes. The bill also clarifies the definition of “workmanlike manner” and establishes criteria for proving breaches of warranty.
In addition to warranty provisions, the bill modifies the dispute resolution process by mandating arbitration for certain claims related to condominiums created after the effective date, particularly for monetary judgments not exceeding $500,000. It allows condominium associations to incur expenses for preparing and serving notices of claim without restrictions from governing documents. The bill also permits courts or arbitrators to assess costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees against parties who refuse to accept offers to remedy defects. Furthermore, it specifies that certain provisions do not apply to accessory dwelling units organized as condominiums and outlines conditions for excluding or modifying implied warranties. A sunset provision is included, stating that specific sections will expire on January 1, 2028.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1407 includes several provisions aimed at curbing the explosion of graffiti in areas across the state. If passed, the bill would require individuals convicted of graffiti-related offenses or malicious mischief to complete at least 40 hours of community restitution. Repeat offenders would face stricter penalties, with a second or subsequent conviction for graffiti classified as a Class C felony.
To further deter organized graffiti crimes, an additional 12 months would be added to the standard prison sentence for offenders involved in large-scale or coordinated graffiti. For juveniles convicted of malicious mischief, the bill would mandate community restitution as a constructive alternative to traditional punishments, ensuring accountability and opportunities for rehabilitation. Additionally, the bill would allocate state funding from 2025-27 to assist law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting graffiti on Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) property, with detailed reporting required to track outcomes.
Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Yelm, attempted to pass a community restitution bill last year, and while it was approved 97-0 in the House, it died in the Senate Law and Justice Committee. He says the goal of his bill is to strike a proper balance between accountability and rehabilitation. “Graffiti vandalism is a growing problem—along I-5 through Tacoma, in the streets of Seattle and Spokane, and in many other places across Washington. It is clear we need a stronger, more effective approach that disincentivizes further defacement of public and private property,” said Barkis. “I am confident law enforcement will continue exploring innovative ways to catch taggers, but once they do, we must ensure there is a system in place that holds offenders accountable for their actions. We cannot have a system that slaps offenders on the wrist, emboldening them to go out and commit the same crime.”
Bill Summary
House Bill 1409 will accelerate Washington’s clean fuels program, imposing stricter carbon reduction mandates, increased penalties, and costly compliance requirements that will drive up fuel prices and hurt consumers, businesses, and the transportation sector. This legislation will raise the carbon intensity reduction requirement to 20% by 2034, four years earlier than the previous law, further increasing costs for fuel producers and consumers. The bill will also remove existing legal protections and replace them with severe new penalties, including fines of up to $50,000 per violation, giving the Department of Ecology unchecked authority to punish fuel providers.
Ultimately, this proposed legislation will further raise gas prices. With Washington already paying some of the highest gas prices in the nation, this bill will make it even worse, disproportionately impacting rural communities, small businesses, and working families who rely on affordable transportation. Instead of pushing extreme fuel mandates that increase costs and limit economic growth, lawmakers should focus on practical, market-driven energy solutions that balance environmental goals with economic reality.
Bill Summary
HB 1414 establishes a work group to assess and recommend changes to outdated state laws that currently limit the training, certification, and employment of 16- and 17-year-olds in career and technical education (CTE) programs. Right now, barriers exist that prevent young people from getting the hands-on training they need to thrive in high-demand industries. HB 1414 ensures that state agencies take a hard look at restrictive regulations, including unnecessary limitations on working hours, certification requirements, and licensing procedures for students enrolled in career-focused programs. It gives young workers better access to industry mentors, meaningful workplace experiences, and high-quality training while still ensuring their safety and well-being. Ultimately, this bill is about preparing students for real jobs, strengthening our workforce, and fueling economic growth.
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Safety
Authorizing the use of automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras in vehicle-racing camera enforcement zones.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1423 authorizes the use of automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras in designated vehicle-racing camera enforcement zones. It establishes a pilot program overseen by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission allowing these cameras to detect noise violations exceeding permissible vehicle sound levels. The bill also clarifies the enforcement of noise standard violations through these cameras and includes provisions for the collection and use of audio data that is inaccessible to the public.
It allows for a 50% reduction in fines for vehicle owners receiving infractions who are public assistance recipients and clarifies that infractions from automated traffic safety cameras will not impact the registered owner’s driving record, with a maximum fine of $145. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
Automated enforcement introduces a surveillance-based, automated traffic enforcement, which would now include audio surveillance and may criminalize behaviors without on-site officer calibration or discretion. Recording audio on public streets sets a concerning precedent and raises unique privacy concerns. This is more than a traffic camera – it’s a surveillance microphone on every block. Cameras will record audio from public streets — creating legal gray areas around the Fourth Amendment and Washington’s two-party consent law for audio recordings. Even with stated limitations (e.g., encryption, not capturing faces), the use of microphones in public spaces for enforcement is an escalation in government surveillance infrastructure. This is a slippery slope. Today it’s noise – tomorrow it could be accelerometers, emissions or even driver behavior profiling.
Another concern includes the inability to contest the measurement or accuracy of the system. There is no requirement for an independent audit of how well the noise enforcement technology works. In addition, the bill limits public access to camera data making it impossible for defendants to challenge the evidence used against them. Even trained officers struggle to accurately measure vehicle noise. We believe the concerns outweigh the benefits and ask you to register your opposition to this bill.