DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

[Filed December 23, 2025, 8:25 a.m.]

Semi-Annual Rule-Making Agenda

January through June 2026

This report details current and anticipated rule-making activities for the department of licensing (DOL). This agenda is sent to you as a requirement of RCW 34.05.314. If you have any questions regarding this report or DOL rule-making activities, please contact Ellis Starrett at 360-902-3846 or rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

This agenda is for information purposes, and the noted dates of anticipated rule-making actions are estimates. Any errors in this agenda do not affect the rules and rule-making notices filed with the office of the code reviser and published in the Washington State Register. There may be additional DOL rule-making activities that cannot be forecasted as DOL initiates rule making to implement new state laws, meet federal requirements, or meet unforeseen circumstances. See the "Key" below for explanations of terms and acronyms.

CR means "code reviser" on notice forms created by the office of the code reviser for use by all state agencies.

CR-101 is a preproposal statement of inquiry filed under RCW 34.05.310.

CR-102 is a proposed rule-making notice filed under RCW 34.05.320 or 34.05.340.

Proposal is exempt under RCW 34.05.310(4) means a rule that does not require the filing of a CR-101 notice under RCW 34.05.310(4).

CR-105 is an expedited rule-making notice filed under RCW 34.05.353. This is an accelerated rule adoption process with no public hearing required.

CR-103P is a rule-making order permanently adopting a rule, and filed under RCW 34.05.360 and 34.05.380.

CR-103E emergency rules are temporary rules filed under RCW 34.05.350 and 34.05.380 by using a CR-103E rule-making order. Emergency rules may be used to meet certain urgent circumstances. These rules are effective for 120 days after the filing date, and may be extended in certain circumstances.

Blank cells in tables mean the anticipated filing date is not known at the time this rules agenda is filed.

RCW is the Revised Code of Washington.

WSR number is the Washington State Register official filing reference number given by the office of the code reviser when a notice is filed.

Proposed Rule Making
Rule	Scope	Agency Contact	Deadline	Legislation Effective Date
Personalized plate rejections	Clarifying terminology related to DOL denials or cancellations of applications for a personalized license plate.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	To be determined (TBD)	N/A
Vehicle seller reports of sale	Removing the process for DOL to accept and process report of sale payments and transactions to reduce backlogs that negatively impact customers.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Qualified veteran's free license	Clarifying eligibility requirements for disabled American veteran license plates.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Financial responsibility	Defining business rules, guidelines, and the process for conducting administrative interviews and formal hearings for financial responsibility and unsatisfied judgment cases.	Shawna Herron Shawna.herron@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A

Ongoing Rule Making
Rule	Scope	Agency Contact	CR-101	CR-102
Abandoned recreational vehicles WSR 25-15-157	Required annual rule making to discuss program efficiency and removal of unnecessary barriers.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	July 23, 2025	December 24, 2025
Catalytic converter inspection fee WSR 26-01-147	Removing the catalytic converter inspection fee listed in WAC 308-70-130 since the fee set in statute doesn't include scrap metal businesses regulated under this chapter.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	N/A	N/A
Pronoun use Multiple WSR	Updating all DOL's WAC to include gender-neutral language in response to a public rule-making petition.	Shawna Herron Shawna.herron@dol.wa.gov	N/A	N/A
Attorney conduct WSR 25-24-021	Creating new rules that define expectations for attorneys appearing in administrative hearings before DOL.	Shawna Herron Shawna.herron@leg.wa.gov	July 23, 2025	November 21, 2025
Administrative law office law judges WSR 26-01-132	Updating references to hearing examiners and making general language corrections.	Shawna Herron Shawna.herron@leg.wa.gov	N/A	N/A
HB 1878 Implementation, voucher program WSR 25-15-156	Establishing new rules related to the creation of a driver training voucher assistance program per ESHB 1878, passed during the 2025 legislative session.	Ellis Starrett estarrett@dol.wa.gov	July 23, 2025	N/A
Home inspector standards of practice WSR 25-17-096	Updating chapter 308-408C WAC with recommended updates on behalf of the Washington state home inspector advisory licensing board.	Kelsey Stone Kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	August 20, 2025	N/A
HB 1874 Implementation, textured hair training WSR 26-01-139	Amending rules to meet the requirements of EHB 1874, passed during the 2025 legislative session, which requires all cosmetology, barber, esthetician, and hair designers to complete training requirements for textured hair prior to licensure.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	N/A	December 24, 2025