Raises the fee to obtain a driver's instruction permit by $10, the driver's license exam fee by $15, and the license service fee by 25 cents, and restricts use of this revenue to expanding and improving driver's education programs and activities.
Driver Training Education.
To be eligible to obtain a driver's license, a person under the age of 18 must complete a driver training education course offered by a private driver training school licensed by the Department of Licensing (DOL) or by a school district.
Traffic safety education courses offered by a private driver training school for individuals under the age of 18 must include:
Traffic safety education courses offered by school districts must include a minimum of:
The DOL and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) maintain a required curriculum for approved private driver training schools and school districts that operate a driver training education program. The required curriculum includes content to develop knowledge, skills, and awareness. It is required to cover: (1) rules of the road; (2) vehicle components; (3) vehicle handling; (4) driver behavior; (5) sharing the road; (6) attention and perception; (7) hazard and risk management; (8) vehicle maintenance, malfunctions, and technology; (9) managing emergencies and adverse conditions; (10) respect and responsibility; and (11) vehicle technology systems.
The DOL may waive the driver training education course requirement if an applicant was licensed to drive a motor vehicle outside the state and provides proof that he or she completed a driver education equivalent to Washington's education requirement.
An applicant for a driver's license 18 years of age or older must successfully pass a driver licensing exam, but is not required to complete a driver training education course to be eligible for a license.
Driver Training Education Subsidy Programs.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is required to contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide driver's license support for foster youth, subject to appropriation. Such support includes the reimbursement of fees required for a foster youth under the age of 18 to complete a driver training education course.
The Department of Labor and Industries is required to provide vouchers to cover the cost of driver training education courses for minors enrolled in a state-registered apprenticeship program, subject to appropriation.
Certain Department of Licensing Fees and Traffic Camera Revenue Use.
The fee to obtain a driver's instruction permit is $25. The fee for the exam to obtain a new driver's license is $35. A person who applies for a vehicle registration must pay a 50 cent license service fee.
Any revenue generated from the deployment of speed safety camera systems by the Washington State Department of Transportation must be deposited into the Highway Safety Fund and first be used for the operating and administrative costs of these camera systems. Any remaining revenue must be distributed for the purpose of traffic safety including, but not limited to, driver training education and local driving under the influence (DUI) emphasis patrols.
Expansion of Driver Training Education Requirements.
Driver training education requirements that must be completed to obtain a driver's license are expanded to apply to individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 according to the following schedule:
Individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 may fulfill the driver training education requirement by completing one of the following:
Eligibility for those between the ages of 18 and 21 to enroll in a driver training course offered by a school district or an approved private school is limited to those enrolled in a public school, a private school, or receiving home-based instruction.
Behind-the-wheel instruction may be offered for up to four hours on a single day in cases of hardship, such as a student needing to travel a great distance to receive behind-the-wheel instruction.
To meet the traffic safety education requirement for a motorcycle endorsement, an applicant between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age must complete a motorcycle safety education course that meets standards established by the DOL.
The DOL may waive the driver training education course requirement if the applicant demonstrates that:
The DOL may also waive the driver training education course requirement if an applicant was licensed to drive a motor vehicle in a reciprocal jurisdiction outside the state or provides proof that he or she obtained equivalent education in a reciprocal jurisdiction.
The DOL must annually report on the implementation of the new driver training education requirements, including on the readiness of the driver education school system to accommodate additional growth, to the Transportation Committees of the Legislature by January 1, 2026, through January 1, 2031. The DOL may, by rule, pause or delay the driver training education requirements if, upon internal review, the DOL finds that there is an insufficient number of driver education and traffic safety education courses or instructors available for the pending age cohort.
The DOL may enact rules to require a person between the ages of 18 and 21 who has completed initial driver training education requirements to complete a driver education refresher course at the time of the person's first driver's license renewal.
Additional Authorization for Examination and Training Methods.
The DOL may approve the use of electronic translation devices for behind-the-wheel training and examination purposes.
Private driver training schools are encouraged to include online driver training education course modules in driver training education courses to the extent feasible, and to focus teaching resources on the behind-the-wheel portion of driver training education.
Driver Instructor Training Programs.
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated in the transportation budget for this purpose, the DOL must establish certification training programs to expand education opportunities for driver training school instructors. The program must:
Beginning July 1, 2026, the DOL must submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature every July 1 that details program activities and provides a programmatic and funding needs assessment, as well as any recommendations to support the program.
Driver Training Education Course Vouchers.
Beginning January 1, 2027, and subject to the availability of funds appropriated in the transportation budget for this purpose, the DOL must establish a program to provide vouchers to cover up to the average cost of traffic safety education courses for novice drivers between the ages of 15 and 21 who reside in low-income households, with the goal of assisting as many people as possible with the greatest need, measured both by income and mobility needs otherwise unserved, to access driver training education. In consultation with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (Traffic Safety Commission), the DOL must adopt rules that establish eligibility criteria, as well as application and award procedures, for the voucher program.
The establishment of the voucher program does not create an entitlement to receive voucher program funds. Driver training education course costs or fees may not be inflated to offset voucher amounts provided by school applicants. The DOL may evaluate course pricing to determine if costs or fees have been inflated for this purpose.
By December 1, 2025, the DOL, in consultation with the Traffic Safety Commission and the Department of Social and Health Services, is required to provide a policy framework and guidelines for the voucher program to the appropriate committees of the Legislature. Beginning January 1, 2028, the DOL must annually report specified voucher program information to the Transportation Committees of the Legislature.
Recipient income data collected by the DOL as part of the voucher program is exempt from public disclosure.
Tribal Young Driver Education Partnership.
Beginning July 1, 2026, and subject to the availability of funds appropriated in the transportation budget for this purpose, the DOL must establish a program to partner with tribal governments to provide young driver education and training in tribal communities. The DOL must provide an implementation plan for the program to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by January 1, 2026. Beginning July 1, 2027, and on a biennial basis thereafter, the DOL is required to report on tribal partnership program activities to the appropriate committees of the Legislature.
Certain Department of Licensing Fees and Traffic Camera Revenue.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the fee to obtain a driver's instruction permit is raised $10, to $35; and the fee for the exam to obtain a new driver's license is recategorized as an "application fee" and raised by $15, to $50. The fee increases of $10 and $15, respectively, must be deposited into the Driver Education Safety Improvement Account (Driver Education Account). The license service fee assessed at the time of vehicle registration is raised by 25 cents, to 75 cents. This fee increase must be deposited into the Driver Education Account.
Any revenue generated from the deployment of speed safety camera systems that exceeds the operating and administrative costs of these camera systems must also be transferred to the Driver Education Account. A portion of the LeMay-America's Car Museum special license plate fee revenue, as specified in House Bill 1368 or Senate Bill 5444, must be deposited into the Driver Education Account as well.
Expenditures from the Driver Education Account may only be used for expanding and improving driver's education programs and activities including, but not limited to, the driver training school instructor education opportunities program, the driver training education course voucher program, and the tribal partnership program.
The substitute bill modifies the expansion of driver training education requirements to apply only to individuals between the ages of 18 and 21, and eliminates the condensed traffic safety education course option that was to be made available for individuals between the ages of 22 and 25. It replaces the authorization for an online, self-paced driver training education course to meet driver training requirements with a recommendation for driver training schools to include online driver training education course modules in their driver training courses to the extent feasible, and modifies the DOL's authority to pause or delay expansion of driver training education requirements to apply at any time after the effective date of the bill. It also modifies the authorization for up to four hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in a single day to only apply in cases of hardship.
The substitute bill limits eligibility to enroll in a driver training course offered by a school district or an approved private school for those between the ages of 18 and 21 to individuals enrolled in a public school, a private school, or receiving home-based instruction. It authorizes the DOL to approve the use of electronic translation devices for behind-the-wheel training and examination purposes.
In addition, the substitute bill restricts eligibility for the driver training education voucher program to individuals between the ages of 15 and 21, and modifies the authorized voucher amount to include amounts less than the average cost of driver training education. It removes reference to a portion of the revenue collected for the LeMay-America's Car Museum special license plate fee being directed to the Driver Education Safety Improvement Account. Finally, it replaces the term "driver's license examination fee" with the term "application fee."
(In support) For those who wait to get their driver's license until they are 18 years old, there is a marked increase in the rate of fatal collisions. Many younger people wait to get their driver's license, with affordability being a big hurdle. The number of young people receiving citations for DUI and negligent driving is increasing. This is a safety issue. Young people need to be able to access driver training education.
The online self-paced driver training option available now is available to driver training programs at a low cost—a student cannot purchase these courses directly. These online self-paced modules allow instructors to focus on the behind-the-wheel portion of a course and on answering questions. They can also lower driver training education course costs.
(Opposed) There is no definitive proof that driver education improves safety. Roadway users knowing and following the law makes things safer. Driver training education programs should be improved to reduce serious crashes. Online pre-packaged courses are not the answer, and many students who need assistance may not qualify to receive it through the voucher program.
(Other) The state's highway safety plan, Target Zero, has a focus on driver education. It should be made more affordable and available to those underserved around the state. Survey data indicates that unaffordability, and the unavailability of courses in an area are the main reasons people delay obtaining their driver's license. Recent data shows that skipping driver training education has dangerous consequences, with much higher rates of crash involvement in individuals who are 18 years old and who have not completed driver training education, compared to individuals who are 16 years old and who have completed it. Similarly, the rates of crash involvement are higher for those between the ages of 18 and 21 and the ages of 21 and 24 who did not complete courses, as compared to those who did complete courses in these age groups.
This is a good bill that recognizes that all new drivers are risky drivers who will be safer if they complete driver training education. The state needs uniform standards for private driver training schools and for courses conducted in public schools. These standards should align with national standards. Ideally, driver training education should be returned to public schools. At a minimum, the same school should teach both the classroom portion and the behind-the-wheel portion of a course to students.
The bill tasks the DOL with establishing standards for online, self-paced instruction. The OSPI and Central Washington University should be included in developing these standards. The authorization to offer behind-the-wheel instruction for up to four hours a day is not educationally sound or safe.
(In support) Representative Brandy Donaghy, prime sponsor; Melissa Pace; Mellani Mcaleenan, AAA Washington; and Linda Thompson.