SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1300
As of March 13, 2025
Title: An act relating to transferring dedicated accounts for certain professional licenses to the business and professions account.
Brief Description: Transferring dedicated accounts for certain professional licenses to the business and professions account.
Sponsors: Representatives Donaghy, Reeves and Ormsby; by request of Department of Licensing.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/6/25, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services & Trade: 3/13/25.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Consolidates seven small professional accounts into the Business and Professions Account administered by the Department of Licensing.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES & TRADE
Staff: Clint McCarthy (786-7319)
Background:

The Business and Professions Account (account) was created in 2005. Receipts from business or professional licenses, registrations, certifications, renewals, examinations, or civil penalties assessed and collected by the Department of Licensing are deposited into the account. The following professions are required to use the account:

  • auctioneers;
  • cosmetologists, barbers, and manicurists;
  • court reporters;
  • private investigators;
  • security guards;
  • bail bond agents;
  • home inspectors;
  • collection agencies;
  • employment agencies;
  • camping resorts;
  • sellers of travel;
  • notaries public;
  • timeshares;
  • boxing, martial arts, and wrestling;
  • body art, body piercing, and tattooing;
  • whitewater river outfitters;
  • commercial telephone solicitation; and
  • scrap metal businesses.
Summary of Bill:

The list of professions that are required to deposit receipts from business or professional licenses, registrations, certifications, renewals, examinations, or civil penalties assessed and collected by the Department of Licensing into the account is expanded to include the following professions:

  • architects;
  • embalmers and funeral directors;
  • landscape architects;
  • certified real estate appraisers;
  • geologists;
  • appraisal management companies; and
  • the funeral and cemetery board.

 

The following accounts are repealed:

  • Architects License Account;
  • Funeral and Cemetery Account;
  • Landscape Architects License Account;
  • Real Estate Appraiser Commission Account;
  • Geologists' Account; and
  • Appraisal Management Company Account.

 

Any residual amounts remaining in the repealed accounts as of December 31, 2025, will be transferred to the Business and Professions Account. The transfer will be made by the state treasurer once the Office of Financial Management has completed the financial statement for fiscal year 2025.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2026.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  This is important because these smaller accounts have money coming in and going out at different times.  Pooling these professions in the Business and Professions Account provides these professions with more stability.  There is a requirement for reporting on different licenses. This is a good government bill.  There are efficiencies by pooling these professions.  This is a good opportunity to bring them in the fold.  The real estate profession would continue to be held separately.  All these professions have been asked to be included. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Brandy Donaghy, Prime Sponsor; Alejandro Sanchez, Department of Licensing; Kathy Walsh, Appraisers' Coalition of Washington.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.