Adoptions

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: SB [ESSB] 6039 required the department of natural resources (DNR) to update its geothermal resources lease rates for DNR-managed properties so that the lease rates are competitive with geothermal resource lease rates adopted by the federal government and other western states, while also maintaining obligations to trusts and not adversely impacting federally reserved tribal rights. The rule-making process changes WAC 332-22-200 throug

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: General provisions for opioid prescribing and tapering rules for allopathic physicians and physician assistants. The Washington medical commission (commission) has adopted amendments to the commission's opioid prescribing rules to exclude patients with sickle cell disease, to clarify tapering considerations, and to clarify the use of biological specimen testing. The rules amend WAC 246-918-801 Exclusions, 246-918-870 Periodic review

Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2025. Purpose: Certified peer specialists and certified peer specialist trainees; establishing certification standards in chapter 246-929 WAC. The department of health (department) is adopting certification standards for the new certified peer specialist and trainee credentials created by 2SSB 5555 (chapter 469, Laws of 2023). The department is adopting rules establishing: The application process; education and examination requirements; supervised experience requi

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Amendments to correct and clarify language throughout chapter 196-26A WAC. Also, the repeal of chapter 196-30 WAC because there is a large amount of language in chapter 196-30 WAC that is a duplication of language found in chapter 196-26A WAC. Any specific language regarding on-site wastewater treatment system designers was moved into chapter 196-26A WAC. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 196-26A-030, 196-26A-05

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Medical assistant medication administration requirements and apprenticeship programs. The department of health (department) is adopting amendments to WAC 246-827-0010, 246-827-0200, and 246-827-0240 and new WAC 246-827-0340 to implement ESHB 1073 (chapter 134, Laws of 2023) and ESSB 5983 (chapter 248, Laws of 2024), codified under chapter 18.360 RCW. The purpose of the adopted amendments is to ensure that the rules are current and al

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The employment security department is adopting new rules and amendments regarding the long-term services and supports trust program (WA Cares fund) to implement a portion of SHB 2467, which passed into law during the 2024 legislative session. The adopted rules implement a portion of the bill that was codified in RCW 50B.04.180 by defining "out-of-state participant." The adopted rules also add additional program definitions, outline q

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority (agency) is amending WAC 182-538-110 to align it with applicable federal government regulations and simplify the managed care organization (MCO) appeal process. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-538-110. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-19-061 on September 16, 2024. Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Hospital licensing regulations (construction standards only); aligning with nationally recognized industry standards. The department of health (department) is adopting updates to align the hospital licensing construction regulations of chapter 246-320 WAC with the 2022 editions of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Outpatient Facilities (2022 guidelines). The upda

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Update the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA) regulations to reflect a change in the counties in the agency jurisdiction, namely to add San Juan County. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending Sections 100 and 570 of the Regulation of the NWCAA. Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 70A.15 RCW. Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-01-113 on December 16, 2024. Date Adopted: February 13, 2025. Mark Buford Executive Direc

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The department of ecology (ecology) is adopting amendments to two air quality rules: Chapter 173-400 WAC, General regulations for air pollution sources. • Update references to a new publication date for Ecology's Source Test Manual — Procedures for Compliance Testing. • Update adoption by reference date in WAC 173-400-025 for purposes of adopting federal rules by reference. Chapter 173-401 WAC, Operating permit regulation. • Repeal t

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The department of social and health services is adopting amendments to WAC 388-410-0030 How does the department calculate and set up my basic food, FAP, or WASHCAP overpayment? These amendments clarify that overpayments due to intentional trafficking of food benefits will represent the entire value of the benefits determined to have been trafficked. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-410-0030. Statutory Author

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The purpose of this proposed rule is to provide guidance to the public on the new requirements concerning the costs of providing public records following the implementation of body worn cameras for the department of fish and wildlife's law enforcement officers. The use of body-worn cameras began on September 1, 2024. The amended rules will also clarify administrative procedures that will not change the effect of the current rules. Ci

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: This rule making supports and protects residents by adding time frames to existing WAC requirements and adding clarifying language. The rule requires adult family homes (AFHs) to dispose of expired, discontinued, and refused medications within a specific time frame and development of a policy to address the transfer of medications when residents permanently leave the home. Residents are less likely to receive expired or unused medica

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Civil penalty schedule for large on-site sewage systems in WAC 246-272B-08105. The adopted rule establishes a civil penalty schedule for violations of a law or rule regulating large on-site sewage systems. This rule is necessary to clarify the department of health's penalties based on significance of the violation, previous compliance record, and the presence of aggravating or exacerbating circumstances. Citation of Rules Affected by

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) 400-025 Adoption of Federal Rules, the proposed rule changes update the adoption by reference date for federal regulations cited in other sections of SWCAA 400. SWCAA 400-030 Definitions, the proposed rule changes add a definition for "hazardous air pollutant" and revise the definition for "nonroad engine." SWCAA 400-045 Permit Application for Nonroad Engines, the proposed rule changes revise statio

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Claimants and employers who have appealed a determination of the employment security department (department) may request to withdraw their appeal before their hearing occurs. Sometimes a claimant or employer may change their mind for some reason, such as not understanding the impact of withdrawing their appeal, and they may request to rescind the withdrawal of their appeal so that they can have a hearing. Although parties are current

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Adding facility types to the list of opioid prescribing exclusions for dentists. The amendments to WAC 246-817-905 expand the types of patients who are exempt from opioid prescribing rules. The adopted language aligns with the Washington medical commission's (WMC) recently adopted rules to ensure consistency and alignment with best practices. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-817-905. Statutory Authority for

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The board of accountancy adopted new WAC 4-30-057 Limitations [Restrictions] on CPA-inactive and CPA-retired, to provide guidance on CPA-inactive and CPA-retired allowable and prohibited activities and restricted title use; and amended WAC 4-30-058 Other authorized titles, to remove subsection (6) related to the CPA-retired designation, as this information has been moved to WAC 4-30-057. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New

Effective Date of Rule: March 4, 2025. Purpose: This rule making restores the flexibility of the previous rule and adds clarity that will help adult family homes (AFH) with compliance while maintaining resident safety and well-being in AFHs. New AFHs will be able to consider toilets in ensuite bathrooms in resident bedrooms toward the total number of toilets available to residents. The anticipated effect is a reduced financial and regulatory burden for new AFHs. Citation of Rules Affected by thi

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The department of natural resources (DNR) is adding a new section to chapter 332-30 WAC and amending WAC 332-30-106 to better achieve DNR's management guidelines with respect to commercial finfish net pen aquaculture. The new rule language would prohibit any future commercial finfish net pen aquaculture uses on DNR managed, state-owned aquatic lands. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 332-30-138; and amending WAC 332-3

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority is amending this rule to clarify: (1) Which medicaid clients are eligible for the health home program; and (2) that people with third-party medical coverage are ineligible for this program. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-557-0200. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-01-102 on December 16, 2024. Number of Sections Ado

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority is amending various sections of chapters 182-513 and 182-515 WAC so that they use "guardian," "guardianship," "conservator," and "conservatorship," as those terms are defined and used in chapter 11.130 RCW. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-513-1100, 182-513-1367, 182-513-1380, 182-513-1530, 182-515-1509, and 182-515-1514. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160

Effective Date of Rule: March 1, 2025. Purpose: Since January 1, 2010, borrowers are not permitted to receive more than eight small loans from any payday lender in any 12-month period (RCW 31.45.073 (4)). Payday lenders are required to verify the number of small loans a borrower has received to ensure the eight small loan limit is not exceeded by checking the required information database (RCW 31.45.093 ; WAC 208-630-555 and 208-630-556). Payday lenders must pay one dollar per small loan registe

Effective Date of Rule: March 4, 2025. Purpose: This rule making modifies language in WAC 388-76-10031 that conflicts with the department of social and health services' (department) interpretation of RCW 70.128.066 related to automatic sprinkler systems in seven and eight bed adult family homes (AFH) that serve only residents who are independent with evacuation. This rule making also implements ESHB 2015, chapter 147, Laws of 2024, that gives the department the ability to temporarily prioritize

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The proposed rule updates the average rate of emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of new combined-cycle natural gas thermal electric generation turbines commercially available and offered for sale by manufacturers and purchased in the United States based on a survey of these turbines, as required under RCW 80.80.050 . The proposed rule decreases the average available GHG emissions output from 925 pounds per megawatt hour (MWh

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Updating the health and safety regulations for Washington State University. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 504-36-020. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28B.30.150 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-20-143 on October 2, 2024. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted Sta

Effective Date of Rule: March 1, 2025. Purpose: Revision to update the current auditors' checklist for land survey maps to provide for clear and concise requirements without ambiguity. Proposed revisions were developed by the department of natural resources with cooperation and input from Washington Association of County Auditors. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: [New WAC 332-130-055]; and amending WAC 332-130-050. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 58.09.110 Duties of county auditor

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority is revising these sections to add behavioral support specialists as an eligible provider type as directed by SSB 5189, section 11, chapter 270, Laws of 2023, and add a behavioral health support specialist definition which aligns with the state plan definition. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-531-1400, 182-531-1710, and 182-538D-0200. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.227.100

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority is amending chapter 182-526 WAC to update its regulations related to the service of a petition for judicial review. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-526-0010, 182-526-0360, 182-526-0387, and 182-526-0650. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-01-053 on December 11, 2024. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with

Effective Date of Rule: January 22, 2027. Purpose: Establishing prescription drug label accessibility standards. The adopted accessible labeling rules establish requirements for all dispensing facilities (i.e., pharmacies, nonresident pharmacies, health care entities (HCE), hospital pharmacy associated clinics (HPAC)) and dispensing practitioners (i.e., health professionals with prescriptive authority in the state of Washington). The adopted rule addresses the protection and promotion of the pub

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: In response to a petition for rule making, the department of agriculture is proposing to clarify current rule language by replacing all gender-specific pronouns with modern gender-inclusive pronouns. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-550-010 and 16-550-020. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.24.035 , 15.26.060 , 15.28.023 , 15.44.021 , 15.65.240 , 15.66.113 , 15.88.050 , 15.89.050 , 15.115.060 , and 16.6

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: In response to a petition for rule making, the department of agriculture is proposing to clarify current rule language by replacing all gender-specific pronouns with modern gender-inclusive pronouns. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-545-020. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.24.035 , 15.26.060 , 15.28.023 , 15.44.021 , 15.65.240 , 15.66.113 , 15.88.050 , 15.89.050 , 15.115.060 , and 16.67.060 . Other A

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: In response to a petition for rule making, the department of agriculture is proposing to clarify current rule language by replacing all gender-specific pronouns with modern gender-inclusive pronouns. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-540-010 and 16-540-020. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 15.24.035 , 15.26.060 , 15.28.023 , 15.44.021 , 15.65.240 , 15.66.113 , 15.88.050 , 15.89.050 , 15.115.060 , and 16.6

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: To add WAC 132Z-115-028, update existing student conduct code sections related to jurisdiction and definitions, and to add chapter 132Z-119 WAC as a supplement to the student conduct code specifically addressing sex discrimination. The effect is to bring Cascadia College's student conduct code into compliance with RCW 28B.10.900 - [28B.10].902, Washington's antihazing laws, and the Department of Education's 2024 Title IX updates. Cit

Effective Date of Rule: April 5, 2025. Purpose: Washington's lottery is revising chapter 315-38 WAC, Mega Millions. The current rules will not be consistent with the rules of the Mega Millions Consortium, which controls the operation of this multistate game, after April 4, 2025. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending chapter 315-38 WAC. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 67.70.040 (1) and (3). Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-22-017 on October 25, 2024. Changes Other than Edit

Effective Date of Rule: March 1, 2025. Purpose: This rule making repeals WAC 296-20-12501 in its entirety. This change will allow the department of labor and industries (L&I) to pay physician assistants at parity with other providers. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 296-20-12501. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 51.04.020 , 51.04.030 , and 51.16.035 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-21-133 on October 22, 2024. A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contac

Effective Date of Rule: April 1, 2025. Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to lower the pension discount rate (PDR) to better align with the rate of return for long term treasuries for self-insured pensions. PDR is the interest rate used to account for the time value of money when evaluating the present value of future pension payments. This rule lowers PDR for self-insured employers from 5.5 percent to 5.4 percent, effective April 1, 2025. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amend

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Physical therapy licensure compact (PTLC); updating the reference date to match the most recent PTLC commission rules. The board of physical therapy has adopted an updated effective date in WAC 246-915A-010 to match the date of the most recent PTLC rules to comply with RCW 18.74.500 , Article IX(2). The purpose of the adopted amendment is to update the effective date in rule to June 17, 2024, which is the most recent version of the P

Effective Date of Rule: February 17, 2025. Purpose: The division of occupational safety and health (DOSH) initiated this rule making to update how base penalties are calculated in order to make penalties more effective and address concerns raised through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) State Activities Mandated Measures (SAMM) report that Washington penalties continue to be below the national average. OSHA uses the SAMM report to determine whether state plans are as-effe

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The department of social and health services is adopting amendments to WAC 388-60B-0015 What definitions apply to this chapter?, 388-60B-0025 What is the purpose of this chapter?, 388-60B-0105 Application process — How must a program apply for certification or recertification to provide domestic violence assessments or intervention treatment services?, 388-60B-0110 Required documentation for certification and recertification — What m

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The employment security department (department), paid family and medical leave program (Title 50A RCW) is adopting rule amendments and repealing rules. The amendments modify the definition of "health care provider" to include naturopathic physicians licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW, change gender-specific pronouns to gender-neutral pronouns, set a prevailing interest rate for late payments associated with damages to align with the i

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: In an effort to improve the current processing system for educator certification applications in Washington state, the office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) is working with the professional educator standards board to implement a new application deadline system that requires renewal certification applications to be submitted six months in advance of the certification expiration date. To enforce this change, OSPI is ad

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) is adopting rule making to allow for potential binding conditions to be placed upon a school district or a charter school when the board of directors of a school district or a charter school board provides OSPI with an annual statement of financial condition (i.e., state Form F-196), and the reported information shows that a deficient general fund balance is reasonably foresee

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: This amendment corrects information about the ways a member of the public can submit a public records request to the Washington state department of transportation. It also adds an alternative option for submitting a request. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 468-06-060. Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 42.56 RCW. Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-22-137 on November 6, 2024. Number of Sections Adopted

Effective Date of Rule: January 15, 2024 [2025]. Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: In 2024, the Washington state legislature adopted RCW 41.58.080 , which requires the public employment relations commission (PERC) to adopt rules to allow for the use of electronic signatures for showing of interest cards. RCW 41.58.080 became effective on June 6, 2024. At the time RCW 41.58.080 became effective, the provisions of WAC 391-25-07

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: When an unfair labor practice violation is found, the public employment relations commission (PERC) issues an order requiring the respondent to take certain steps to remedy the violation of state law. PERC assigns a staff member to monitor the compliance process to ensure that the order is complied with. The purpose of WAC 391-45-400 is to provide procedural structure to the compliance process. Citation of Rules Affected by this Orde

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The proposed rules require card game licensees to exchange chips for cash unless the player requests payment by check; changes the formula for determining the minimum amount of cash required to be in the cage, safe, and/or vault for house-banked card rooms; allows for specific prizes to be paid by check; and requires house-banked card room licensees to have sufficient funds to pay fixed-based prizes offered. Citation of Rules Affecte