PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 18782025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Improving young driver safety.

Sponsored By: Brandy Donaghy (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 6 costs, 1 mixed.

Young drivers face courses after violations

Beginning January 1, 2027, initial-license holders ages 18–24 must complete a course after moving violations on two occasions. Ages 18–21 must take a safe driving course. Ages 22–24 take that course through December 31, 2030, then a condensed traffic safety course beginning January 1, 2031. Drivers have 180 days after department notice to finish; otherwise, their license is suspended until they finish. Violations from one traffic stop count as one occasion, and an initial license means no prior Washington license.

More young drivers must complete training

Approved training becomes required for first-time Washington license applicants age 18 on January 1, 2027. Coverage expands to ages 18–19 in 2028, 18–20 in 2029, and 18–21 in 2030, each January 1. Applicants previously licensed in a reciprocal jurisdiction are exempt. The Department of Licensing can waive training for specified hardships, essential driving needs, or equivalent education. Applicants meeting motorcycle endorsement education requirements must pass a motorcycle safety course that meets department standards. The department can delay the rollout when course or instructor capacity is too limited. It must report on implementation annually from January 1, 2026, through January 1, 2031.

Young drivers need training before renewal

Beginning January 1, 2031, initial Washington licenses issued before age 21 follow a special expiration rule. They expire on the later of the driver's 21st birthday after issuance or second birthday after issuance. Drivers cannot renew until they satisfactorily complete a refresher course set by the Department of Licensing.

Driver training help for low-income youth

Beginning January 1, 2027, the law establishes driver training vouchers for low-income Washington residents ages 15–24, subject to appropriated funds. Vouchers cover up to the average eligible course cost, including school-based and licensed-school courses, refreshers, and required violation-related courses. No person can receive another voucher for the same course. Prior driver training support under RCW 74.13.338(2)(b) or 49.04.290 makes a person ineligible. The department sets income criteria and reports voucher counts and redemptions by county beginning January 1, 2028. Recipient income data collected through the program is exempt from public disclosure.

Students get more flexible driver lessons

Driver education classroom lessons can take place in person or online with a live instructor. Self-paced online content is allowed only when the Department of Licensing authorizes and certifies it. Schools are encouraged, but not required, to use approved self-paced content when feasible. Providers can offer up to four driving-lesson hours daily for hardship, such as long travel distances, but need not do so. The department can approve translation devices for licensing, lessons, tests, and assessments, but need not approve or provide them.

Driver training partnerships for tribal youth

Beginning July 1, 2026, the department must establish partnerships with tribal governments for young driver education in tribal communities. Establishing the program depends on money appropriated specifically for it in the transportation budget.

More training support for driving instructors

The department must establish instructor training and mentoring opportunities when money is appropriated specifically for this program. The program includes certification training and grants or incentives to encourage industry diversity. Instructor requirements must align with those of the state school agency. The program supports private instructors teaching in school facilities, but those courses do not earn school credit.

Higher fees for new driver applicants

Beginning January 1, 2026, new-license applicants pay $50 instead of $35, a $15 increase separate from license issuance fees. This applies to people never licensed in Washington or whose last Washington license expired more than eight years ago. Initial instruction permit applications cost $35 instead of $25, a $10 increase. Each additional permit issuance still costs $25.

Vehicle owners pay higher service fees

Beginning January 1, 2026, the covered vehicle license service fee rises from 50 cents to 75 cents per application. It applies to vehicle registration or another right to operate a vehicle on state highways, alongside other fees and taxes. Vehicles registered under RCW 46.16A.455 or 46.17.330 remain exempt, except those subject to the fee under RCW 46.17.355.

Young applicants must pass safety lessons

From May 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030, initial-license applicants under 25 must pass an online safety course. The requirement also covers intermediate-license applicants during this period. The department must make the course free and can waive it when unavailable at application. Driver education courses must also teach safe road sharing with road workers and first responders.

Dedicated state money supports driver education

The law creates the Driver Education Safety Improvement account; spending requires legislative approval and must expand or improve driver education. Beginning January 1, 2026, it receives $15 per driver application fee and $10 per instruction permit application fee. It receives one-third of covered license service fee revenue; two-thirds of the 75-cent vehicle service fee revenue goes to Move Ahead WA. Work-zone speed camera revenue first pays camera operating and administrative costs, then sends any surplus to the driver education account. This replaces the prior surplus traffic-safety allocation, and the camera provision expires June 30, 2030. The account can also receive traffic fine revenue. It receives monthly treasury earnings based on its average daily balance, including under rules effective July 1, 2028.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brandy Donaghy

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    Democratic • House

  • Beth Doglio

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Fitzgibbon

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Sharon Tomiko Santos

    Democratic • House

  • Steve Tharinger

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 183 • No: 59

House vote • 4/21/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 71 • No: 26 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 38 • No: 11

House vote • 3/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 74 • No: 22 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025*.

    5/17/2025House

  2. Chapter 299, 2025 Laws.

    5/17/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/17/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/24/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/23/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 71; nays, 26; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/21/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/21/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 38; nays, 11; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/10/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025House

  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    4/10/2025House

  12. Committee amendment not adopted.

    4/10/2025House

  13. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/7/2025House

  14. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/24/2025House

  15. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/20/2025House

  16. Minority; do not pass.

    3/20/2025House

  17. TRAN - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/20/2025House

  18. First reading, referred to Transportation.

    3/13/2025House

  19. Third reading, passed; yeas, 74; nays, 22; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2025House

  20. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/11/2025House

  21. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/11/2025House

  22. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/11/2025House

  23. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/10/2025House

  24. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/28/2025House

  25. TR - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/27/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation