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
Washington State House Bill 1582 addresses occupancy load calculations in child care centers operating within multi-use buildings, particularly churches. Currently, child care center occupancy load calculations consider the entire building’s use, even if the center only occupies a portion. The bill proposes that occupancy load calculations only consider the space used for child care services, not the entire building. This change would affect building code compliance, particularly regarding fire safety and egress requirements. The bill also notes the role of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Washington State Patrol Director of Fire Protection in licensing and inspection processes. This bill would ultimately lead to the availability of more child care space. There is a significant need for more child care centers in Washington at this time.
-
Elections
Ending vote by mail for nonabsentee voters and restoring in-person voting at polling places and voting centers.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1584 aims to end vote by mail for nonabsentee voters and restore in-person voting at polling places and voting centers in Washington state. The bill fundamentally changes the state’s voting system by limiting absentee ballot eligibility to specific groups such as voters over 65, those with disabilities, military personnel, students living outside the county, incarcerated individuals with voting rights, and those working during polling hours. County auditors will be required to approve absentee ballot requests only for these specific categories.
The legislation emphasizes ballot security and seeks to restore trust in the electoral process by requiring most voters to vote in person at designated polling places. The bill introduces detailed provisions for polling place operations, including requirements for election officers, voter identification, ballot handling, and accessibility for disabled voters. Political party observers will be allowed to monitor the voting process, and new procedures are established for ballot counting and storage. The bill also mandates that most voters must provide valid photo identification before voting and vote at designated polling places, with only a limited group of voters eligible to request absentee ballots. The overall intent is to create a more controlled, in-person voting environment that the bill’s authors believe will reduce potential fraud and increase election integrity.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1596 aims to improve road safety in Washington State by addressing speeding. The bill proposes a new “intelligent speed restricted driver’s license” for drivers with multiple speeding violations or reckless driving convictions. This license requires drivers to use an intelligent speed assistance device in their vehicles. The bill also defines “excessive speeding,” outlines the eligibility criteria for the restricted license, and establishes penalties for tampering with the device. Finally, it allocates funds for program administration and sets effective and expiration dates.
This bill has received support from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and the King County Prosecutor’s Office.
-
Safety
Expanding the locations where a person can be guilty of unlawful transit conduct to include the Washington state ferries.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1616 closes a gap in public transportation safety by expanding the definition of unlawful transit conduct to include Washington State Ferries. Currently, disruptive and unlawful behavior—such as smoking, littering, vandalism, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct—is enforced on buses, trains, and transit stations, but not on state ferries. This bill corrects that oversight by granting Washington State Ferries the same legal authority to enforce rules that apply to other transit systems. It ensures that ferry passengers can travel safely without facing harassment, vandalism, or other disruptive behavior. Ferry workers and law enforcement will now have clear legal grounds to address misconduct that threatens public safety and disrupts operations.
Passengers deserve a secure and respectful travel experience, whether they are commuting, visiting family, or exploring the Puget Sound region. The bill strengthens accountability, making violations punishable by a misdemeanor charge, which could result in fines or jail time, just like in other public transit spaces. With millions of passengers relying on ferries each year, this legislation provides an essential safeguard to maintain order and protect public property. It also supports ferry workers, who often deal with unruly individuals but currently lack the legal tools to enforce proper conduct. By deterring illegal activity, HB 1616 helps prevent costly damage to ferry property, reducing unnecessary taxpayer expenses. No one should feel unsafe while using public transportation, and Washington State Ferries should not be an exception. This bill ensures equal enforcement across all public transit systems, making safety a top priority for all riders. Other transit systems already have similar laws in place, proving this is a common-sense, effective measure.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1622 is a way to keep the state government bloated, inefficient, and requiring more and more taxpayer money. It also limits the choices of managers. The bill essentially requires public employers to engage in collective bargaining with unions whenever the adoption or modification of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies affects employee wages or performance evaluations. While the bill aims to ensure fair treatment of public employees in the age of AI, it represents an overreach into managerial decision-making and introduces burdensome obstacles to technological innovation. Public employers are already required to negotiate the impact of management decisions; but HB 1622 goes too far by requiring bargaining over the decisions themselves.
Its core requirement—that public employers must negotiate before implementing or modifying AI tools—could significantly delay vital technology upgrades. AI is evolving rapidly, and public institutions need the flexibility to respond just as quickly. Mandating preemptive bargaining slows this process, hindering government efficiency, service delivery, and fiscal responsibility to taxpayers. Additionally, the bill blurs the lines between impact bargaining, which is already required by law when changes affect mandatory subjects like wages, and control over decision-making itself. This shift would allow unions to challenge not just how AI is used, but whether it’s used at all—granting undue influence over fundamental management decisions. In high-stakes areas like public safety and infrastructure management, such delays could have real-world consequences. Please register CON.