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 Substitute House Bill 1102 aims to expand the state’s veterans service officer program. The bill addresses the low percentage of Washington veterans receiving federal benefits, noting significant disparities across counties. It proposes expanding the program to increase the number of veterans accessing benefits by adding one to two officers per biennium, prioritizing counties with the lowest rates. Funding and reporting requirements are detailed, focusing on improving outreach, support, and data collection to better serve veterans. The bill modifies existing law to clarify eligibility and funding processes for the program.
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Taxes
Recognizing the tremendous sacrifices made by our military veterans by phasing down the disability rating requirements to ensure more disabled veterans are eligible for property tax relief.
Bill Summary
Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, has filed a bill to increase property tax breaks for disabled veterans in Washington State. House Bill 1106 seeks to lower the required disability ratings gradually, making more veterans eligible for property tax relief and providing greater financial assistance to those who have served.
Under current statute, veterans must have a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 80% or higher to qualify for the senior property tax exemption. It’s important to note that this bill does not impact all property-owning veterans who meet the service-connected thresholds. Veterans will still have to meet the financial requirements of 70% of the county median household income, which remains challenging to achieve. This bill does not impact those financial limits.
HB 1106 would introduce significant property tax relief measures through a phased approach to disability rating requirements. Starting in 2026, veterans with a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 60% or higher will become eligible for property tax exemptions. This eligibility threshold will gradually decrease to 40% in 2027 and further to 20% or higher, including those with a total disability rating, beginning in 2028 and beyond. This phased reduction aims to extend financial assistance to a broader group of veterans over time.
“This bill is a testament to our commitment to honor and support the brave men and women who have served our state and nation,” said Barnard. “By expanding property tax relief, we ensure that our disabled veterans receive the recognition and assistance they deserve while also maintaining fiscal responsibility for our local governments.”
Bill Summary
The median price of a single-family home in Washington now exceeds $600,000 – 29% higher than the national average. Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla, wants to know why. He’s reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would create a task force of builders, realtors, lenders, tenants, landlords, and housing experts to determine what is driving these costs skyward. The task force would have until the end of 2026 to present its report to the Legislature.
“Until we get to the root of the problem, we’re not going to be able to fix it. We need to bring people to the table that are continuously in this environment”, states Klicker. Excessive government regulations tracing back to passage of the Growth Management Act in the 1990’s is one of the primary cost drivers. Klicker adds, “As regulations increase, and it starts at the state level and down to the local level, you continue to create more unaffordable housing.”
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Safety
Concerning accountability and access to services for individuals charged with a misdemeanor.
Bill Summary
House Bill 1113 is another soft-on-crime push by the Democrats that lacks justice and true accountability for crimes. It allows individuals charged with misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors to have their cases dismissed by the court if they substantially comply with court-ordered conditions over a 12-month period. By giving courts the discretion to dismiss charges based on subjective “substantial compliance,” the bill risks creating inconsistency and inequality in how justice is applied. Two defendants with similar charges could face vastly different outcomes depending on a judge’s interpretation, eroding fairness in the legal system.
Additionally, the bill excludes numerous serious offenses from eligibility but still allows dismissal for many potentially harmful crimes, raising public safety concerns. It weakens the justice system, potentially encouraging repeat offenses by signaling that charges can be cleared without accountability through trial or plea. The process also lacks strong oversight and lowers evidentiary standards for compliance hearings, as formal rules of evidence are not required. This creates a legal gray area that could be manipulated or inconsistently enforced, especially by liberal judges. While the bill claims to prioritize treatment and rehabilitation, it could overwhelm already-strained court systems with vague compliance tracking, and it provides no funding for the services defendants are expected to complete. Soft-on-crime has proven to be a tragic failure for society at large, and above all, it is unjust to the victims.
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Freedom
Concerning restrictions on the working conditions and hours of sixteen- and seventeen-year olds.
Bill Summary
HB 1121 allows young workers enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs to work the same hours during the school year as they would during vacations and holidays. This bill empowers students by giving them the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while preparing for their futures. By lifting outdated restrictions, we ensure that students who are dedicated to learning skilled trades, technical professions, or other career-focused pathways can work, train, and earn without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. This is about more than just employment—it’s about equipping the next generation with skills, responsibility, and opportunities that will set them up for success. It makes sense: If a student is already in a structured, school-approved program, we should empower those skills into action, not limit them.