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WashingtonSB 52652025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Expanding minimum requirements for electrical inspectors to include certain out-of-state experience.

Sponsored By: Curtis King (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Stronger oversight of electrical inspections

The director of labor and industries and city or town officials must enforce state electrical rules in their areas. The director must appoint a chief electrical inspector and may hire more inspectors as needed. The chief gives the department’s final interpretation of electrical standards, subject to the director’s review. The state pays the director’s and inspectors’ salaries and expenses only from the electrical license fund. Beginning July 27, 2025, these oversight and funding rules apply.

New inspector paths and certification rules

The law opens more ways to qualify as a state electrical inspector. You can qualify with 4 years as a journey‑level electrician; or with a department journey‑level certificate plus 8 years of electrical construction work, including 4 years after getting a journey‑level license by exam from another state that has reciprocity; or with 4 years as a journey‑level electrician doing inspector duties for the state or an approved city or town. For work under the National Electrical Safety Code, certified outside journeyperson lineworkers with 4 years of experience (including those who have done inspector duties for a utility) may inspect. Inspectors hired only for National Electrical Safety Code work must hold and keep that outside journeyperson lineworker certification. Beginning July 27, 2025, these qualification rules apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Curtis King

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Matt Boehnke

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Paul Harris

    Republican • Senate

  • Perry Dozier

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 142 • No: 2

House vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 2/26/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 46 • No: 2 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/22/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 132, 2025 Laws.

    4/22/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/17/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/16/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/15/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/10/2025Senate

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

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

    4/8/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/1/2025Senate

  11. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/28/2025Senate

  12. LAWS - Majority; do pass.

    3/28/2025Senate

  13. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.

    2/28/2025Senate

  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 46; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/26/2025Senate

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/26/2025Senate

  16. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/26/2025Senate

  17. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/19/2025Senate

  18. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/10/2025Senate

  19. Minority; do not pass.

    2/7/2025Senate

  20. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/7/2025Senate

  21. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/7/2025Senate

  22. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    1/14/2025Senate

  23. Introduced

    1/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

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