WashingtonHB 21782025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning court rules and procedures.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

State funding for county debt collection

Beginning June 11, 2026, the law establishes annual state funding for county clerk collection budgets. By October 1 each year, the state treasurer must distribute money lawmakers appropriate for those budgets. The distribution uses the formula recommended by the Washington Association of County Officials; the law specifies no dollar amount. It also repeals the existing statute on collecting and distributing court-related debts. The available text does not explain how that repeal changes what households owe or pay.

More response time for civil citations

Beginning June 11, 2026, civil citation response deadlines increase from 15 days to 30 days after personal service or 33 days after mailing. Notices must explain the infraction, fine, response options, and that the notice is a final determination of an infraction. They must explain that civil infractions are not crimes and do not carry jail time. At a contested hearing, the state must show the infraction more likely than not occurred; you can subpoena enforcement officers. At a mitigation hearing, you are treated as having committed the infraction and cannot subpoena witnesses. Ignoring a notice or missing a hearing can lead to a default judgment, prosecutor referral, and misdemeanor prosecution. That misdemeanor can carry fines or jail time. Enforcement must issue, serve, and file notices, with filing due within five days of issuance, excluding weekends and holidays. Without good cause for late filing, the court may dismiss the case upon request, but it can be filed again.

Payment plans and civil fine rules

Beginning June 11, 2026, you may request a payment plan at any time for any civil-infraction debt, including fees and costs. Courts must approve a plan when they find you cannot pay in full, subject to two limits. You must not have received a plan for that debt before, and the court must not have authorized civil collection action. After authorizing a collection agency to take that action, the court may still approve a plan, but approval is optional. The law sets no payment amounts or plan terms. Money is due immediately when imposed, though courts may extend payment time; unpaid debts can be collected as civil judgments. Prosecutors may be notified of unpaid obligations, and courts may order repayment for harm caused. Maximum fines are $250 for Class 1, $125 for Class 2, $50 for Class 3, and $25 for Class 4. Class 1 exceptions allow up to $500 for potentially dangerous litter, service-animal misrepresentation, and untraceable firearms. They allow up to $1,000 for refusing specified vehicle or weapon tests or failing to report a lost or stolen firearm.

Property damage charges now cover data

Beginning June 11, 2026, malicious mischief rules expressly cover altering, damaging, erasing, or impairing records, information, data, and computer programs. They also cover those materials' representations and interrupted computer services. Damage value includes lost property value caused by the act and the cost to repair physical damage. Damage to multiple items by one person under a common scheme or plan may be combined in one count. For this combined-damage rule, each item must separately qualify as third-degree malicious mischief based on value. The total must exceed $750, up from $250, to support a second-degree charge and conviction.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

My-Linh Thai
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Hunter Abell
Republican • House
Janice Zahn
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Kristine Reeves
Democratic • House
Mary Fosse
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 128 • No: 17

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 39 • No: 9 • Other: 1

House vote • 1/29/2026