Here are some state laws taking effect

OLYMPIA — The 2026 Washington legislative session wrapped up, passing 267 bills to Governor Bob Ferguson to sign into law. We would go insane giving you a rundown of each one, but here’s a look at a few we followed during the 2026 legislative session.

SB 6002 Driver Privacy Act (effective March 30, 2026)

This law is designed to protect driver data captured by surveillance cameras from police abuse. It limits which agencies state and local police can give access to data gathered by their license plate-reading cameras, known as automated license plate readers. It also restricts the amount of time they keep data gathered by the cameras to 21 days, which is far longer than police accountability activists had advocated. Under this law, police must register, report and audit their ALPR systems, and it says they cannot be used to help federal agents enforce immigration law.

HB 1903 Statewide Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (effective June 11)

The Statewide Low-Income Energy Assistance Program created by this law streamlines the process for funding energy subsidies for low-income people.

It requires the Department of Commerce to phase in funding to participating utilities to reduce the monthly energy bills of low-income customers. The law also modifies utility energy assistance requirements under the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA). Governor Bob Ferguson vetoed the section of the bill requiring the Department of Commerce to establish an advisory group for the Statewide Low-Income Energy Assistance Program on March 30, citing lack of funding.

HB 1906 Water System Rates (effective June 11)

This law is meant to limit sudden rate hikes for water. It does so through several mechanisms. First, it requires public water systems to tell their counties and water districts when they change ownership. It also requires the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to adopt rules for determining water companies’ rates and prohibits the UTC from approving any transaction that changes the controlling interest in a water company unless the transaction provides net benefits to customers of the company. It also allows a water company to file a multiyear rate plan with the UTC.

HB 1941 Cannabis Agricultural Cooperatives (effective June 11)

This bill amends existing laws to allow cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, providing them with similar structural benefits to traditional agricultural cooperatives. An agricultural cooperative is a user-owned, democratically controlled business allowing farmers and producers to combine resources, collectively purchase supplies and market products.

According to an amendment to the bill by the Labor and Commerce Committee added on March 5, “Licensed cannabis producers may form associations or cooperatives and engage in activities as provided in RCW 24.34.010. No single association or cooperative may represent more than three cannabis producer licenses issued by the liquor and cannabis board at any given time.”

SB 6182 Abortion Savings Program (effective June 11)

The bill creates a public funding stream low-income people can access to pay for abortion care in Washington. A new section added to chapter 43.70 RCW outlines the program›s purpose, including awarding operating grants to eligible organizations that promote equitable access to abortion services. The bill mandates that at least 85% of the funds appropriated for the program be distributed as grants, while also ensuring the confidentiality of identifying information related to grant recipients and service providers.

SB 6260 Public Education Funding (effective June 11)

This bill would reduce the state’s obligations to the public education system by $31.8 million in 2025–27, $70.6 million in 2027–29 and $74.3 million in the 2029–31 biennium, according to the Everett Post. SB 6260 will extend the state’s reimbursement timeline for buses purchased by school districts, lengthening the amount of time buses can run before they need to be replaced, spreading state payments over a longer period.

Use for smaller buses would increase from eight to 10 years, while those for larger buses would increase from 13 to 15 years.

The bill also reduces the combined maximum enrollment for students participating in Running Start temporarily to 1.3 full-time equivalents if the tax on millionaires is enacted (it was).

This means students can still participate in summer Running Start, but they will need to carefully plan their credits with academic advisors to maximize the lower limit, which will affect the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years. Funding for the Transition to Kindergarten Program would be limited, allowing school districts to charge tuition and fees for the transitional kindergarten program, except for children with disabilities.

Eliminates the inflationary increase for National Board bonuses beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

HB 1604 Jail Searches/Gender (effective June 11)

Provides parameters for conducting searches of transgender and intersex people who are incarcerated in Washington. Those folks will also be able to choose the gender of the staff conducting their search or request a medical professional.

HB 2105 Immigration Worker Protection Act (effective June 11)

The bill aims to bolster protections for immigrant workers in Washington State by mitigating the impacts of federal immigration enforcement actions, such as workplace raids. Key provisions include requirements for employers to notify workers of federal inspections of I-9 forms and related records.

Employers must also post notices in multiple languages and ensure that affected workers receive timely information about inspection results. HB 2105 sets penalties for non-compliance, allowing the attorney general to investigate violations and pursue legal action on behalf of affected workers. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against workers for exercising their rights and workers may seek damages in court.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.