Adoptions

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to adopt amendments to the boiler rules under chapter 296-104 WAC. The changes affect the definitions, fees, inspection, operation, and maintenance requirements for boilers and pressure vessels. The amendments are needed to make updates, clarifications, housekeeping, and other changes to the rules. Adopted amendments to the chapter are as follows: New Section: WAC 296-104-450 Operation—What are the

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The department of fish and wildlife's (department) purpose was two-fold: • The department proactively minimized the risk of spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD) and infection in the greater state cervid population. In support of this endeavor, the department updated and clarified the administrative requirements for individuals who possessed, sold, imported, propagated, transferred, or maintained live deleterious and native wildlif

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners; expanding the acceptance of English proficiency examinations. The department of health (department), in consultation with the acupuncture and Eastern medicine advisory committee (committee) is adopting amendments to WAC 246-803-130 Applications requirements for applicants from foreign schools, and 246-803-240 Examinations, to allow the acceptance of additional English proficiency examin

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The Washington state gambling commission is proposing a rule change to increase the prize for when surveillance rooms are required to use pan-tilt-zoom cameras to verify winning hands, amounts of the wager, amounts of the pay out, and players who have won the prize in WAC 230-15-320(4). Currently, house-banked card rooms are required to have a closed-circuit television system with fixed cameras over each gambling table to view gambli

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The Washington state gambling commission is proposing a rule change to increase the prize threshold for house-banked card rooms to retain video of jackpot payouts of $3,000 or more for 30 days to $5,000 in WAC 230-15-319 (2)(b)(ii). Currently, house-banked card rooms are required to have a closed-circuit television system with fixed cameras over each gambling table to view gambling activities and areas to include, but not be limited

Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2027. Purpose: E2SSB 5217, chapter 379, Laws of 2025, passed during the 2025 legislative session with an effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill repeals RCW 43.10.005 Workplace pregnancy accommodations, and creates a new chapter in Title 49 RCW, referred to as the Healthy Start Act. Section 1 of the bill creates RCW 49.92.010 Definitions, which reflects the definitions previously included in RCW 43.10.005 ; and it expands the definition of reasonable accom

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2026. Purpose: To provide clarity on what must be addressed in employers' salary determination policies (SDP). WAC 357-28-030 requires employers to develop a written SDP that is subject to the director's approval. Office of financial management, state human resources conducted a review of chapter 357-28 WAC and identified opportunities to clarify what must be addressed in employers' SDP. This effort was prompted by employer feedback and a need to clarify requir

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2026. Purpose: SHB 2411, chapter 241, Laws of 2026, passed during the 2026 legislative session, effective June 11, 2026. Section 1 of this bill amends RCW 41.04.665 Leave sharing program, to: Expand shared leave eligibility to include instances when an employee is a victim of a hate crime and when an employee's absence from work is due to the involvement of the employee or the employee's relative or household member in an immigration enforcement action; define

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2026. Purpose: SB 5420, chapter 207, Laws of 2026, passed during the 2026 legislative session with an effective date of June 11, 2026. Section 8 amends RCW 41.04.010 Veterans' scoring criteria status in examinations, to expand preference in competitive examinations to include members of the uniformed services. Section 11 amends RCW 73.16.031 Definitions, to amend the definition of "Uniformed services" for the purpose of chapter 73.16 RCW, to include members of

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Amend WAC 220-312-030(56) so that the open fishing season for Mineral Lake would extend through October 31 annually. This rule amendment was initiated by rule petition and granted by the director. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-030 Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules — Southwest. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012 , 77.04.055 , 77.12.047 , and 77.04.020 . Adopted under notice filed as

Effective Date of Rule: September 28, 2026. Purpose: The department of fish and wildlife (department) is seeking to update hunting rules to improve their enforceability and to ensure that they are better understood by the public. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-413-190; and amending WAC 220-400-010, 220-400-030, 220-400-040, 220-400-050, 220-400-060, 220-412-070, 220-412-080, 220-412-130, 220-413-020, 220-413-050, 220-413-060, 220-413-070, 220-413-140, 220-413-180, 22

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority is amending the rule to add to the factors an administrative law judge is to consider when determining whether to grant a hearing continuance and to add expectations regarding the timing of the administrative law judge's initial decision. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-526-0280. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-15

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2026. Purpose: The purpose of these rules is to update the Columbia River Gorge Commission's (commission) land use ordinance to incorporate an amendment to the management plan for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area that changed the guidelines for landowners who seek to rebuild their homes and structures after a disaster. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 350-082-0080, 350-082-0150, 350-082-0200, and 350-082-0220. Statutory Author

Effective Date of Rule: August 20, 2026. Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: RCW 46.12.600 (5) requires the department of licensing to update rules regarding the vehicle market value thresholds by July 1st of the year after there has been an increase in the annual average value over the previous year. Purpose: Aligning rule with the market value threshold amount in the current federal consumer price index report. Citation of Ru

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The purpose is to update the rules regarding certified residential providers and how they use professional treatment plans when providing services to people in the community protection program. This will align the rule with federal waiver requirements regarding restrictive procedures and person-centered supports and is currently in place via emergency rule filed under WSR 26-11-041. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending

Effective Date of Rule: October 18, 2026. Purpose: The office of the insurance commissioner (commissioner) is adopting rules to define unfair trade practices and to help clarify the minimum standards for claims handling in Washington state. The rule allows the insurance industry and Washington state consumers a more fair and transparent claim process. The rule clarifies and adds definitions and specific unfair claim practices concerning claims handling, particularly when the insurer is consideri

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2026. Purpose: The purpose of this rule making is to create additional means of calculating administrative assessments for active self-insured employers, and in doing so, facilitate fair and equitable funding for current and future self-insurance projects. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 296-15-223. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 51.44.145 and 51.44.150 (chapter 57, Laws of 2025). Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-10-061 on May

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority (HCA) is amending these rules to ensure alignment with HCA's current billing practices. The amendments standardize billing policies while maintaining compliance with applicable federal guidelines. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-531-0200, 182-531-0600, 182-531-0750, 182-531-0800, 182-531-1050, 182-531-1300, 182-531-1450, 182-531-1650, and 182-531-1900. Statutory Authority for Adopt

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The office of superintendent of public instruction is adopting rule making to expand state funding for students receiving special education services who turn 21 in alignment with SSB 5253 (2025). Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 392-121-106, 392-121-187, 392-122-220, and 392-700-035. Statutory Authority for Adoption: SSB 5253 (2025); and RCW 28A.150.290 , 28A.150.305 , 28A.175.115 , 28A.300.072 , and 28A.710.040

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The office of superintendent of public instruction is adopting rule making regarding how special education staff will apply to K-3 class size; physical, social, and emotional support (PSES); and certificated instructional staff ratio compliance calculations after changes were made to the special education allocation in E2SSB 5263 (2025). Additionally, the rule making being proposed would change the months when K-3 class size and PSES

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The office of superintendent of public instruction is adopting rule making regarding when emergency advances can be requested and when repayment will be due for better fiscal oversight and management of the state operating budget. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 392-121-436, 392-121-438, and 392-121-443. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.150.290 , 28A.510.250 , and 28A.710.220 . Adopted under notice fil

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) is adopting rule making to update the types of educational programs that meet the definition of a course of study and to clarify that a course of study must be provided or supervised by a certificated instructor. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 392-121-107. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.44.230 , 28A.150.290 , 28A.545.110 , 28A.710.040 , 84.52

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) is adopting rule making to address school districts' budgeting practices. Additionally, OSPI is adopting rule making concerning the sale of real property by school districts who are in binding conditions and to address the charging of interest when districts in binding conditions or under enhanced financial oversight for temporary interfund loan from their capital projects fun

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Providing additional clarity regarding the department of retirement systems' use of administrative factors. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 415-02-305; and amending WAC 415-02-030 and 415-02-300. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.45.030 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-14-056 on June 25, 2026. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The department of ecology (ecology) is adopting amendments to three rules to support implementation of the governor's Executive Order 25-03 Improving transparency and building efficiency in the state's permitting and licensing process. These amendments make changes to two air quality permits, six air quality general orders, and environmental laboratory accreditation to clarify application fee language and update out-of-date informati

Effective Date of Rule: One business day after filing. Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: The federal requirements that the department of retirement systems (DRS) is implementing are already in effect, so DRS is putting the rules into effect one business day after filing the CR-103P. Purpose: Complying with Internal Revenue Service regulations governing nonspousal survivor benefits from a retirement plan. Citation of Rules Aff

Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2027. Purpose: Effective January 1, 2027, the American Medical Association is replacing the global obstetrics codes with itemized billing. The health care authority amended this chapter to update language references to global services and fees and made additional housekeeping changes. Changes to WAC are effective January 1, 2027. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-533-0400. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160 .

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Pharmacy registration for mobile opioid treatment program (OTP) units. The pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is adopting amendments for WAC 246-945-060 and 246-945-250 to exempt mobile OTP units from having to obtain separate registrations, as long as they are covered under the OTP site's controlled substance registration, and to incorporate comprehensive facility requirements for facilities that have an other contro

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority (agency) added speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs), physical therapy assistants (PTAs), occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), and rural emergency hospitals (REHs) to the list of eligible providers in WAC 182-502-0002. OTAs and PTAs are already listed in WAC 182-545-200 but, for consistency, the agency added these providers to the general eligible provider list in WAC 182-502-0002. The agency added

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority (HCA) amended these rules to update when hospital safety net program assessment notices are sent from "on or about 30 calendar days prior" to "on or before 45 days" to align with RCW 74.60.030 (1). The reference to RCW 74.60.030 (1)(a) was updated to RCW 74.60.030 (1) in WAC 182-550-8100(1). HCA also added language for settlement guidelines to include timelines, appeals, and exclusions, and added a new secti

Effective Date of Rule: September 20, 2026. Purpose: The department of social and health services (department) received a petition requesting the department update [chapter 388-76 WAC] to align with federal requirements for long-term care ombuds access to resident records. The department received a petition requesting a change in the requirement for adult family providers to conduct emergency evacuation drills from every "sixty days" to every "two months." The change will reduce the burden on ad

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: This rule change amends the department of children, youth, and families' public disclosure fax number, mailing address, and form name used by the public when making public records requests. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 110-01-0120 How to make a public records request. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 42.26.040 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-12-064 on June 1, 2026. Number of Sections Adopted in O

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority is repealing WAC 182-550-5500. This section is not current and is redundant. The current payment methodology for rural health clinics is found in chapter 182-549 WAC. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 182-550-5500. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-12-020 on May 22, 2026. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply wit

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Providing clarification regarding reimbursement of medical premiums for law enforcement officers' and firefighters' Plan 2 members who are catastrophically disabled in the line of duty. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 415-104-4801 and 415-104-482. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.50.050 . Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-13-020 on June 8, 2026. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Fede

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Continuing education (CE) certification requirements for osteopathic physicians. The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery (board) is adopting amendments to WAC 246-853-080 to update the osteopathic physician CE requirements and specify that a maintenance of a certification program may satisfy CE requirements. The adopted changes add an additional pathway to allow licensed osteopathic physicians to meet CE requirements by partici

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: To implement provisions of EHB 1279, an act relating to postsecondary education consumer protection; to implement provisions of ESHB 1572, an act relating to higher education accreditation standards; and to strengthen consumer protections for students attending degree-granting institutions operating under the requirements of the Degree-Granting Institutions Act, chapter 28B.85 RCW. • Adds language clarifying that an exemption from th

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: WAC 192-150-100 Employer-initiated layoffs or reductions in force, addresses an individual's ability to qualify for unemployment benefits when they separate from employment due to their employer initiating a layoff or reduction in force. HB 2264 (2026) adds a new section to chapter 50.20 RCW, RCW 50.20.055 , that codifies WAC 192-150-100 into law, with some changes to the rule's language. The bill adds language specifying that the av

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: SB [ESSB] 6005 requires the department of licensing (DOL) to specify the requirements for health care professionals providing electronic documentation to individuals who are applying for special parking privileges. The amended rules will clarify application requirements for special parking privileges, as well as improve access by expanding options for the application and health care authorization formats DOL will accept. The rule lan

Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2026. Purpose: The health care authority is amending school employees benefits board (SEBB) program rules in WAC 182-31-200 to implement Resolution SEBB 2026-01 Election periods for school board members, and make technical amendments regarding procedural requirements. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-31-200. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 , 41.05.160 , and 41.05.740 . Other Authority: Resolution SEBB 2026-01. Adopted

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Amendments to chapter 446-105 WAC are necessary to clarify procedures governing work zone speed safety camera system infractions and associated adjudicative processes. The proposed revisions clarify which matters are appropriate for brief adjudicative proceedings, establish clearer requirements and timelines for petitions for review, and specify the issues that may be raised in contested hearings. Additional revisions clarify payment

Effective Date of Rule: September 1, 2026. Purpose: The purpose of these rules is to update the Columbia River Gorge Commission's (Gorge Commission) rules for open public meetings, public records disclosure, conflicts of interest, and administrative procedure to remain consistent with the more restrictive of Oregon and Washington law as required by the Columbia River Gorge Compact. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New 47; repealing 47; and amending 3. Statutory Authority for Adoption: R

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: In accordance with RCW 28A.640.010 and 28A.642.010 , discrimination in Washington K-12 public schools on the basis of sex; race; ethnicity; creed; religion; color; national origin; honorably discharged veteran or military status; sexual orientation; gender identity; gender expression; homelessness; immigration or citizenship status; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; neurodivergence; or the use of a trained

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Update the WAC language on initial consideration of an educator preparation program. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 181-78A-105. Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28A.410 RCW. Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-11-016 on July 16, 2026 [May 13, 2026]. 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

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: Implementation of 2025 legislation (SHB 1543, 69th legislature, 2025 regular session) authorizing the department of commerce to adopt additional compliance pathways, expand exemption criteria, and approve extensions for covered buildings to comply with the clean buildings performance standard (chapter 19.27A RCW). SHB 1543 enables broader compliance with the clean buildings performance standard by reducing financial barriers and incr

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The purpose of this adoption is to incorporate housekeeping updates in several division of occupational safety and health's (DOSH) chapters listed below. Housekeeping edits include typographical errors, updates to resource links, and citation corrections. No requirements were affected during this rule making; changes are only for clarification purposes. Adopted rule updates: Chapter 296-78 WAC, Safety standards for sawmills and woodw

Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2026. Purpose: The department of social and health services is adopting amendments to WAC 388-400-0010 Who is eligible for state family assistance?, and 388-493-0010 Working family support. These amendments update the state family assistance and working family support programs to support compliance with federal program requirements and the state operating budget. As applicable, these amendments make additional changes required to improve clarity, update policy,

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The health care authority (agency) is developing new rules relating to behavioral health preadmission screening and resident review (PASRR) requirements for people with mental illness. The proposed chapter clarifies who must initiate and conduct a PASRR level 1 screening, which evaluators must make PASRR determinations, and what is required for a PASRR level 2 evaluation. The rules also establish an appeals process and requirements f