Update From Olympia: A Recap of the 2026 Washington Legislative Session

*Photo © Washington State Legislative Support Services*

BY SANJAY WALVEKAR

The 60-day 2026 legislative session began on Jan. 12 and adjourned sine die on March 12. Legislators passed an $80.2 billion supplemental operating budget¹ with approximately $1.6 billion in new spending for crime victim services, state hospital staffing, and responses to federal policy changes, among other priorities. Legislators also passed an $889 million supplemental capital budget² to fund statewide construction and infrastructure projects, and a $16.6 billion supplemental transportation budget,³ adding $1.2 billion to fund road preservation, existing ferry fleet support, and transportation safety initiatives statewide.

Bar Priority Bill Passes Legislature

One of the WSBA’s main priorities⁴ during the 2026 legislative session was to study the inefficiencies and inequities created by local court rules, funding, and technology as outlined in the WSBA Proclamation⁵ adopted by the Board of Governors in November 2024. With this goal in mind, the Board supported Second Substitute House Bill 1909, which passed both chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson. SSHB 1909 creates a court unification task force to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current Washington state court system to identify areas where a unified approach to court operations may improve efficiency in the delivery of court and judicial services. The WSBA will appoint a voting member to the task force, which will convene its first meeting by Oct. 1, 2026 and deliver a final report to the Legislature by June 30, 2028.

WSBA Board Supports Court Proposals

In addition to supporting Bar-priority legislation, the WSBA endorses non-Bar request bills that seek to create and promote access to justice for all Washington residents. The WSBA Board of Governors voted to support several bills this session originating from the Administrative Office of the Courts, including:

Senate Bill 5868

Adding an additional superior court judge in Skagit County and in Yakima County.

This bill increases the number of superior court judges in Skagit County from four to five and increases the number of superior court judges in Yakima County from eight to nine. The bill passed the Legislature and has been signed into law by the governor.

Substitute House Bill 2178

Concerning court rules and procedures.

This bill reconciles the monetary damage limit in two statutes concerning malicious mischief in the second degree; aligns statutory provisions with court rules on the subject of civil infractions; repeals the requirement for the Administrative Office of the Courts to distribute to county clerks appropriated funds as grants for the collection of legal financial obligations; and directs the state treasurer to administer to county clerks appropriated funds as grants for the collection of legal financial obligations. The bill passed the Legislature and has been signed into law by the governor.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6086

Strengthening security for Washington state judicial officers and court personnel.

This bill authorizes security personnel of the Administrative Office of the Courts to conduct threat assessments on behalf of judicial officers and to receive criminal history record information that includes non-conviction data to investigate any such threat. The bill also authorizes bailiffs of the Supreme Court to conduct threat assessments on behalf of Supreme Court judicial officers rather than only for justices. The bill passed the Senate but did not reach the House floor for a vote. This issue will likely be reconsidered next year.

WSBA Bills of Interest

Each year, the WSBA Legislative Affairs team monitors legislative proposals that are significant to the practice of law and administration of justice. Key bills this yearinclude:

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837

Concerning guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements for adults.

This bill makes various revisions throughout the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act, including revisions addressing court visitors, appointment of an attorney for a respondent, orders of appointment of a guardian for an adult or a conservator, and supported decision-making agreements. The bill was monitored by the Family Law, Elder Law, and Low Bono Sections and and has been signed into law by the governor.

Engrossed House Bill 2445

Ending probates for profits.

This bill creates additional standards and requirements for personal representatives appointed to administer an estate under suitable person provisions; creates requirements for the validity of an agreement between a transferee for value and a beneficiary for the purchase of the beneficiary’s interest in an estate; and creates safeguards for heir finder services subject to court oversight. The bill was monitored by the Probate & Trust Council of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Section and and has been signed into law by the governor.

Substitute Senate Bill 5720

Enacting the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act.

This bill adopts the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act to create
rules a plaintiff must follow in order to obtain a default judgment in a lawsuit seeking collection of a consumer debt. It also establishes requirements for the contents of a complaint or amended complaint, contents of a required notice to the consumer, and penalties for violating these requirements. The bill was monitored by the Creditor Debtor Rights Section and was signed into law by the governor.

House Bill 2255

Concerning litigation financing.

This bill imposes requirements on, and prohibits certain acts by, third-party litigation funders as part of litigation financing agreements; declares violations of third-party litigation financing requirements to be a violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and enables enforcement and recovery under the CPA; and authorizes statutory damages and other remedies to enforce the requirements on third-party litigation financing. This legislation did not reach final passage this session.

Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6239

Establishing a process for adjudicating tort claims against the state of Washington and its political subdivisions.

The latest version of this bill creates an administrative process for adjudicating tort claims against the state and its political subdivisions through a claims commission within the Office of Administrative Hearings. The bill was monitored by the Dispute Resolution Section and did not reach final passage this session.

The next legislative session will begin in January 2027 and is scheduled for 105 days, marking the first half of the 2027-2028 biennium. During the interim and the upcoming session, the WSBA will continue to monitor and act on legislation significant to the practice of law and administration of justice.

LEARN MORE

To view the text of the bills mentioned in this article, visit https://leg.wa.gov/ and type in the bill number.

About the author

Sanjay Walvekar is the WSBA legislative affairs manager. He joined the WSBA staff in 2017, after several years working in local and statewide politics. He earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Washington. He can be reached at:

sanjayw@wsba.org

NOTES

1. https://fiscal.wa.gov/statebudgets/2026 proposals/Documents/co/oprConfSummary.pdf.

2. https://fiscal.wa.gov/statebudgets/2026 proposals/Documents/cc/hcConfBudget Summary.pdf.

3. https://fiscal.wa.gov/statebudgets/2026 proposals/Documents/ct/stNarrative
Summary.pdf.

4. www.wsba.org/docs/default-source/about-wsba/legislative/2026-wsba-legislative-priorities.pdf?sfvrsn=655be5f1_5.

5. www.wsba.org/docs/default-source/about-wsba/legislative/board-of-governors-proclamation-regarding-disparate-local-court-rules-funding-and-technology.pdf?sfvrsn=1abe19f1_1.