SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1984
As Passed Senate, March 3, 2022
Title: An act relating to protecting privacy of addresses related to vehicle registration certificates.
Brief Description: Protecting privacy of addresses related to vehicle registration certificates.
Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen and Graham).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/22, 98-0.
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/22/22, 2/28/22 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 3/3/22, 46-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires paper-issued registration certificates for vehicles, trailers, and vessels to be printed to allow for the manual removal of a registrant's address, by the named registered owner, without compromising any required information on the certificate.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Liias, Chair; Saldaña, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Cleveland, Das, Fortunato, Holy, Lovelett, Lovick, Nguyen, Nobles, Padden, Randall, Sheldon, Wilson, C. and Wilson, J.
Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)
Background:

To be valid, a vehicle registration certificate must be signed by the registered owner, carried in the vehicle for which it is issued, and provided on demand to law enforcement and the Department of Licensing.  The registration certificate may be provided in either paper or electronic format.  Acceptable electronic formats include the display of electronic images on a cellular phone or another portable electronic device.  These requirements do not apply to vehicles for which registration is not required to be renewed annually or for properly marked public vehicles.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning January 1, 2023, paper-issued registration certificates for vehicles, trailers, and vessels must be printed to allow for the manual removal of a registrant's address, by the named registered owner, without compromising any required information on the certificate.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  This was brought to me by a constituent that asked the legitimate question of why the address has to be printed on the registration.  This potentially creates a risk if criminals get this information and then use this information for subsequent criminal activity.  By making this change to allow the vehicle owner to remove the address, this will help protect vulnerable people.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Cyndy Jacobsen, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.