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
Senate Bill 5485 is bipartisan legislation that requires the Department of Agriculture to submit an annual livestock inspection program report. This report will be provided to relevant legislative committees and the livestock identification advisory committee, detailing collected amounts, program expenditures, and recommendations for efficiency improvements and fee modifications. Additionally, the financial status of the program will be assessed to determine if a review of fees is necessary to ensure continued support. Furthermore, the bill continues the current livestock identification fees, the Livestock Identification Advisory Committee, and the Livestock Identification Program report from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2030.
The livestock identification program helps track ownership, deter theft, and support the health and safety of the state’s livestock industry. The extension provided by SB 5485 ensures the program can continue operating without interruption, offering stability for producers statewide. The legislation has unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate.
“This bill is a significant step forward for our agricultural community,” said Senator Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “By extending these critical components of the livestock identification program, we’re ensuring that our ranchers and farmers have the support they need to maintain accurate records and protect their livestock investments.” “Our livestock producers rely on this program for essential services like brand registration and inspection,” said Warnick. “Continuing these services means we can uphold the integrity of our livestock markets and provide peace of mind to those who work tirelessly to feed our communities.” “I’m grateful for the bipartisan collaboration that made this possible,” Warnick added. “Together, we’re reinforcing the foundation of our state’s economy and honoring the hard work of our livestock producers.”
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Safety
Providing parameters for conducting searches of transgender and intersex individuals confined in a local jail in compliance with federal law.
Bill Summary
SB 5490 is a pro-transgender bill that imposes overly rigid and impractical requirements on local jails that could compromise safety and operational effectiveness. The bill mandates that jails adopt detailed policies for searching transgender and intersex individuals, including giving inmates the right to choose the gender of the officer who conducts their search. This level of customization can create staffing complications, especially in smaller or rural facilities with limited personnel.
The bill effectively eliminates correctional officers’ flexibility in conducting searches, even during high-risk situations, by limiting cross-gender searches to only the most extreme, “exigent” circumstances. Yet in a jail environment, where time-sensitive security concerns frequently arise, such narrow definitions could endanger both staff and inmates. Furthermore, the bill excludes staffing shortages as a valid reason for deviating from its requirements, meaning jails would be forced to delay searches or forego them altogether until specific personnel become available—a clear threat to institutional safety.
The new mandates also open the door to costly lawsuits if procedures are not followed to the letter, placing an extra financial and legal burden on local governments. Many jails already follow the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards, which strike a more balanced approach between individual rights and facility safety. Adding stricter state-level mandates may only serve to overcomplicate compliance without meaningful benefits. Registering CON on SB 5490 is not a vote against respect or human dignity. Instead, it preserves safety, operational flexibility, and practical governance in Washington’s correctional facilities.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5491 establishes a prescribed fire claims fund pilot program in Washington to address the increasing risks of wildfires and promote the use of prescribed and cultural burning as effective forest management tools. The program aims to provide financial coverage for losses incurred during these controlled burns, which are essential for improving forest health and reducing hazardous fuel accumulation. The legislation recognizes the historical significance of fire management practices by tribal peoples and emphasizes the need for a five-fold increase in prescribed burning to mitigate wildfire risks.
To implement this program, a new section is added to the RCW’s detailing eligibility criteria for claims, which must arise from burns conducted by certified managers or cultural practitioners under approved plans. The office of risk management will oversee the program, determining claim eligibility and reimbursement amounts, which are capped at $2,000,000 per claim. Additionally, the bill amends the administration of the prescribed fire claims fund pilot program as an allowable expenditure from the risk management administration account. The program is set to expire on June 30, 2033, and the act takes effect immediately to ensure prompt action in addressing the forest health crisis.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5493 requires hospitals in Washington State to enhance price transparency by mandating two key actions: First, by July 1, 2027, hospitals must fully publish and comply with federal price transparency rules. These federal rules are designed to help patients understand healthcare costs before receiving services. Second, starting July 1, 2027, hospitals must submit two specific types of charge files to the state department annually: a machine-readable file listing standard charges for all hospital items and services, and a consumer-friendly list of standard charges for a subset of “shoppable services” (which are typically routine or predictable medical procedures that patients can compare and plan for in advance).
By requiring these submissions, the bill aims to increase transparency in healthcare pricing, potentially helping patients make more informed decisions about their medical care and understand potential costs before receiving treatment. The bill has unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5494 may sound like a well-intentioned effort to protect communities from lead exposure, but it introduces unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and opens the door to unchecked regulatory expansion. The bill hands the Department of Commerce new powers to enforce and manage lead-based paint programs without clear limits or guarantees of consistent oversight. It removes long-standing safeguards like the requirement for 24- to 48-hour advance notice before inspections—allowing inspectors to show up unannounced, disrupting businesses and violating property rights. At the same time, the bill eliminates the clear $25 and $200 statutory fees and instead grants Commerce full authority to set fees by rule—effectively writing themselves a blank check with no cap on costs for certifications, training, or inspections.
This bill also removes a key protection: the existing provision that exempts facility owners from lead paint inspection if they do not wish to receive federal abatement funds. Under the new rules, even homeowners or contractors not seeking funding may be subjected to enforcement. Additionally, while the bill claims to focus on public safety, it actually weakens the standard for criminal penalties—now only applying to fraud or intentional violations—potentially reducing accountability for dangerous practices. Overall, SB 5494 gives too much authority to unelected bureaucrats, removes critical checks and balances, and places contractors and homeowners at risk of unpredictable fees and enforcement. For a bill that so deeply affects property rights, small businesses, and public health, this lack of transparency and accountability should concern every Washingtonian.