﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><CertifiedBill type="pl" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><EnrollingCertificate xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document" type="hBill"><Table align="center" pubwidth="wide" width="504.0pt" fontFamily="Courier New"><Col width="252.0pt" /><Col width="228.0pt" /><TR><TDEnroll><Passage><PassedBy chamber="h"><PassedDate>February 11, 2026</PassedDate><Yeas>79</Yeas><Nays>16</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy><PassedBy chamber="s"><PassedDate>March 3, 2026</PassedDate><Yeas>33</Yeas><Nays>15</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy></Passage></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><Certificate><P><TextRun>I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is </TextRun><TextRun fontWeight="bold">HOUSE BILL 2543</TextRun><TextRun> as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.</TextRun></P><Certifier /><CertifierPosition>Chief Clerk</CertifierPosition></Certificate></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><ApprovedDate /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><FiledDate /></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><Governor /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Secretary of State</TextRun></P><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold"> State of Washington</TextRun></P></TDEnroll></TR></Table></EnrollingCertificate><Bill type="bill" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><BillHeading><ShortBillId>HB 2543.PL</ShortBillId><LongBillId>HOUSE BILL 2543</LongBillId><PLMessage><Message>Passed Legislature</Message><PLSession>2026 Regular Session</PLSession></PLMessage><Legislature>69th Legislature</Legislature><Session>2026 Regular Session</Session><Sponsors>Representatives Pollet, Zahn, and Salahuddin</Sponsors><BillHistory><ReadDate>Read first time 01/16/26.</ReadDate><ReferredCommittee>Referred to Committee on Appropriations.</ReferredCommittee></BillHistory><BriefDescription>Concerning county clerk fees.</BriefDescription></BillHeading>

<BillBody>
<BillTitle>AN ACT Relating to county clerk fees; and amending RCW 36.18.016.</BillTitle>
<EnactedClause />
<BillSection type="amendatory" action="amend">
<BillSectionHeader><BillSectionNumber><TextRun>Sec. </TextRun><Value>1</Value><TextRun>.  </TextRun></BillSectionNumber><SectionCite><TextRun>RCW </TextRun><TitleNumber>36</TitleNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><ChapterNumber>18</ChapterNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><SectionNumber>016</SectionNumber></SectionCite> and 2022 c 29 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:<Caption>Various fees collected<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Not subject to division.</Caption></BillSectionHeader>
<P>(1) Revenue collected under this section is not subject to division under RCW 36.18.025 or 27.24.070.</P>
<P>(2)(a) For the filing of a petition for modification of a decree of dissolution or paternity, within the same case as the original action, and any party filing a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim in any such action, a fee of $36 must be paid.</P>
<P>(b) The party filing the first or initial petition for dissolution, legal separation, or declaration concerning the validity of marriage shall pay, at the time and in addition to the filing fee required under RCW 36.18.020, a fee of $54. The clerk of the superior court shall transmit monthly $48 of the $54 fee collected under this subsection to the state treasury for deposit in the domestic violence prevention account. The remaining six dollars shall be retained by the county for the purpose of supporting community-based domestic violence services within the county, except for five percent of the six dollars, which may be retained by the court for administrative purposes. On or before December 15th of each year, the county shall report to the department of social and health services revenues associated with this section and community-based domestic violence services expenditures. The department of social and health services shall develop a reporting form to be utilized by counties for uniform reporting purposes.</P>
<P>(3)(a) The party making a demand for a jury of six in a civil action shall pay, at the time, a fee of $125; if the demand is for a jury of 12, a fee of $250. If, after the party demands a jury of six and pays the required fee, any other party to the action requests a jury of 12, an additional $125 fee will be required of the party demanding the increased number of jurors.</P>
<P>(b) Upon conviction in criminal cases a jury demand charge of $125 for a jury of six, or $250 for a jury of 12 may be imposed as costs under RCW 10.46.190.</P>
<P>(4) <TextRun amendingStyle="add">The following fees will be charged for copies made by the superior court clerk's office:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(a)</TextRun> For preparing a certified copy of <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">an instrument</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">a court document</TextRun> on file or of record in the clerk's office, <TextRun amendingStyle="add">a fee of $5 will be charged</TextRun> for the first page <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">or portion of the first page, a fee of five dollars, and</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">plus a fee of $1</TextRun> for each additional page <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">or portion of a page, a fee of one dollar must be charged</TextRun>.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(b)</TextRun> For authenticating or exemplifying <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">an instrument,</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">a court document on file or of record, in addition to the fee to prepare the certified copy in subsection (2)(a) of this section,</TextRun> a fee of <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">two dollars</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">$2</TextRun> for each additional seal affixed must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(c)</TextRun> For <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">preparing</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">providing</TextRun> a copy <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">of an instrument on file or of record in the clerk's office</TextRun> without a seal, a fee of 50 cents per page must be charged. <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">When copying a document without a seal or file that is in an electronic format, a fee of 25 cents per page must be charged.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(d) For providing a photograph of an exhibit, a fee of $5 per photo must be charged.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(e) For providing a copy of a digital or electronic exhibit, a fee of $25 per exhibit must be charged.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(f)</TextRun> For copies <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">made on a compact disc, an additional</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">delivered on an electronic storage medium, a</TextRun> fee of <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">$20 for each compact disc</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">$5</TextRun> must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(g) The clerk may charge for the cost of posting and mailing the copies, plus a $2 handling fee.</TextRun></P>
<P>(5) For executing a certificate, with or without a seal, a fee of two dollars must be charged.</P>
<P>(6) For a garnishee defendant named in an affidavit for garnishment and for a writ of attachment, a fee of $20 must be charged.</P>
<P>(7) For filing a supplemental proceeding, a fee of $20 must be charged.</P>
<P>(8) For approving a bond, including justification on the bond, in other than civil actions and probate proceedings, a fee of two dollars must be charged.</P>
<P>(9) For the issuance of a certificate of qualification and a certified copy of letters of administration, letters testamentary, or letters of guardianship, there must be a fee of five dollars.</P>
<P>(10) For the preparation of a passport application, the clerk may collect an execution fee as authorized by the federal government.</P>
<P>(11) For clerk's services such as performing historical searches, compiling statistical reports, and conducting exceptional record searches, the clerk may collect a fee not to exceed $30 per hour.</P>
<P>(12) For processing ex parte orders, the clerk may collect a fee of $30.</P>
<P>(13) For <TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkleft">duplicated recordings of court's proceedings there must be a fee of $10 for each audiotape and $25 for each video or other electronic storage medium.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarknone">(14) For registration of land titles, Torrens Act, under RCW 65.12.780, a fee of $20 must be charged.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strikemarkright">(15)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">preparing a copy of the audio or video recording from a court proceeding, a fee of $25 per court date must be charged.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(14)</TextRun> For the issuance of extension of judgment under RCW 6.17.020 and chapter 9.94A RCW, a fee of $200 must be charged. When the extension of judgment is at the request of the clerk, the $200 charge may be imposed as court costs under RCW 10.46.190.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(16)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(15)</TextRun> A facilitator surcharge of up to $20 must be charged as authorized under RCW 26.12.240.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(17)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(16)</TextRun> For filing an adjudication claim under RCW 90.03.180, a fee of $25 must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(18)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(17)</TextRun> For filing a claim of frivolous lien under RCW 60.04.081 or 60.90.130 or filing an action to release a lien under RCW 60.90.090 and 60.90.140, a fee of $35 must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(19)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(18)</TextRun> For preparation of a change of venue, a fee of $20 must be charged by the originating court in addition to the per page charges in subsection (4) of this section.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(20)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(19)</TextRun> A service fee of five dollars for the first page and one dollar for each additional page must be charged for receiving faxed documents, pursuant to Washington state rules of court, general rule 17.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(21)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(20)</TextRun> For preparation of clerk's papers <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">under RAP 9.7</TextRun>, a fee of 50 cents per page must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(22)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(21)</TextRun> For copies and reports produced at the local level as permitted by RCW 2.68.020 and supreme court policy, a variable fee must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(23)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(22)</TextRun> Investment service charge and earnings under RCW 36.48.090 must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(24)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(23)</TextRun> Costs for nonstatutory services rendered by clerk by authority of local ordinance or policy must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(25)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(24)</TextRun> For filing a request for civil arbitration, a filing fee may be assessed against the party filing a statement of arbitrability not to exceed $250 as established by authority of local ordinance. $220 of this charge shall be used to offset the cost of the civil arbitration program. $30 of each fee collected under this subsection must be used for indigent defense services.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(26)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(25)</TextRun> For filing a request for trial de novo of a civil arbitration award, a fee not to exceed $400 as established by authority of local ordinance must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(27)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(26)</TextRun> A public agency may not charge a fee to a law enforcement agency, for preparation, copying, or mailing of certified copies of the judgment and sentence, information, affidavit of probable cause, and/or the notice of requirement to register, of a sex offender convicted in a Washington court, when such records are necessary for risk assessment, preparation of a case for failure to register, or maintenance of a sex offender's registration file.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(28)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(27)</TextRun> For the filing of a will or codicil under the provisions of chapter 11.12 RCW, a fee of $20 must be charged.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="strike">(29)</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">(28)</TextRun> A surcharge of up to $20 may be charged in dissolution and legal separation actions as authorized by RCW 26.12.260.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(29)</TextRun> The revenue to counties from the fees established in this section shall be deemed to be complete reimbursement from the state for the state's share of benefits paid to the superior court judges of the state prior to July 24, 2005, and no claim shall lie against the state for such benefits.</P>
<History>2022 c 29 s 12; 2021 c 102 s 17; 2018 c 36 s 7; 2016 c 74 s 4. Prior: 2015 c 275 s 11; 2015 c 265 s 27; 2009 c 417 s 2; 2007 c 496 s 204; 2006 c 192 s 2; prior: 2005 c 457 s 18; 2005 c 374 s 2; 2005 c 202 s 1; 2002 c 338 s 2; 2001 c 146 s 2; 2000 c 170 s 1; 1999 c 397 s 8; 1996 c 56 s 5; 1995 c 292 s 14.</History>
<RCWNoteSection>
<RevNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">*Reviser's note: </TextRun>RCW 65.12.780 was repealed by 2022 c 66 s 1.</NoteP></RevNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Housing voucher program outcome evaluation and benefit-cost analysis<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Transfer of residual funds to the general fund<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2022 c 29:</TextRun> See notes following RCW 9.94A.729.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Short title<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Effective date<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2021 c 102:</TextRun> See RCW 60.90.900 and 60.90.902.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Applicability<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Effective date<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2018 c 36:</TextRun> See notes following RCW 7.06.043.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Finding<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Intent<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2015 c 265:</TextRun> See note following RCW 13.50.010.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Effective dates<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2007 c 496 ss 201, 202, 204, and 501:</TextRun> See note following RCW 26.12.260.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Part headings not law<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2007 c 496:</TextRun> See note following RCW 26.09.002.</NoteP></AnnNote>
<AnnNote><NoteP><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Intent<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>2005 c 457:</TextRun> See note following RCW 43.08.250.</NoteP></AnnNote>
</RCWNoteSection>
</BillSection>
</BillBody>
</Bill></CertifiedBill>