New Washington laws taking effect January 1, 2026

24 laws take effect January 1, 2026.

Of the 690 bills enacted since 2025, 690 have an effective date and 0 don't yet (pending). A law here takes effect that day by its main provisions; parts of a staggered act may take effect on other dates.

Updated Nov 1, 2026 at 2:40 a.m. EST.

Wages (7)

  • HB 1173 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    High-hazard facility wages

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 210, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • HB 1213 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Paid family & medical leave

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 304, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • HB 1524 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Isolated employees

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 47, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • HB 1533 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Specialty electricians

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 240, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • HB 1879 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Hospital worker breaks

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 101, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    Parts of this act take effect on other dates.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • SB 5101 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Worker leave/hate crimes

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 375, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • SB 5463 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Industrial insurance/duties

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 338, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

Healthcare (4)

  • HB 1162 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Health care work violence

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 303, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • SB 5291 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Long-term services trust

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 380, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01 (the act has more than one effective date).

    Parts of this act take effect on other dates.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • SB 5498 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Contraceptive coverage

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 147, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • SB 5689 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Drivers' licenses/blood type

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 217, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

Taxes (2)

  • HB 2020 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Payment card processing/tax

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 401, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

  • SB 5794 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Tax preferences

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 423, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01 (the act has more than one effective date).

    Parts of this act take effect on other dates.

    How effective dates are worked out

Traffic (2)

Affordability (1)

Civil Rights (1)

Climate (1)

Crime (1)

  • HB 1440 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Civil forfeiture proceedings

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 306, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

Education (1)

  • HB 2050 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    K-12 savings & efficiencies

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 405, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    Parts of this act take effect on other dates.

    How effective dates are worked out

Finance (1)

  • HB 2061 · 2025–26 Regular SessionsPublished

    Duty-free sales enterprises

    How we got this date

    Published by the legislature: Chapter 406, Laws of 2025: effective 2026-01-01.

    How effective dates are worked out

Government (1)

Mining and Drilling (1)

Public Lands (1)