DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

[Filed July 2, 2025, 10:17 a.m.]

Semi-Annual Rule-making Agenda

July through December 2025

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
Temporary license plate extension	Amend WAC to extend the temporary license plate validity length.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	December 1, 2025	December 1, 2025
Abandoned RV fees	Review possible changes to the fees and rates for the abandoned RV program with impacted partners.	Brandon Bannister Brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	End of 2025	N/A
Disabled American veteran (DAV)/qualified veteran's free license	Clarify eligibility guidelines for DAV plates, and fees that apply to customers.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Specialty plates redesign	Creating new rules regarding the process for sponsoring organizations to follow if they want to redesign existing specialty plates.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Place of business	Expedited rule making to align rules with current law regarding a vehicle dealer's place of business.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Prorate and fuel tax collection implementation	Complete rule making necessary to complete HB [EHB] 1964 bill implementation from the 2024 legislative session.	James Manuel james.manuel@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Financial assistance for ignition interlock devices (IID)	Allowing customers to apply for financial assistance when there isn't an IID requirement on file.	Colton Myers colton.myers@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Employer exemption applications	Creating new rules for DOL's employer exemption application related to ignition interlock devices as part of HB [ESHB] 1493 bill implementation from the 2024 legislative session.	Colton Myers colton.myers@dol.wa.gov	January 1, 2026	January 1, 2026
Appraiser evaluations	Reflecting changes at the federal level as part of HB [EHB] 1797 bill implementation from the 2023 legislative session.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	January 1, 2026	January 1, 2026
Textured hair training curriculum requirements	Setting new requirements for cosmetology schools to offer textured hair training as part of HB [EHB] 1874 bill implementation from the 2025 legislative session.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	March 1, 2026	March 1, 2026
Pronoun use	Pursuing expedited rule making in response to a petition regarding inclusion of gender-neutral language.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Appraiser fee clarifications	Clarify fees for appraisers regarding inactive license reinstatement.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A
Home inspector standards of practice	Update language regarding standards of practice for home inspector licenses, at request of the home inspector board.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	TBD	N/A

Ongoing Rule Making
Rule	Scope	Agency Contact	CR-101	CR-102
Ownership in doubt WSR 25-13-105	Amending WAC to clarify customers are not required to seek releases of interest from prior vehicle owners before entering ownership in doubt to align with current statute.	Brandon Bannister brandon.bannister@dol.wa.gov	June 18, 2025	N/A
Habitual traffic offender clarity WSR 24-18-120	Clarifying probation guidelines and terms concerning habitual traffic offenders.	Colton Myers colton.myers@dol.wa.gov	September 4, 2024	June 4, 2025
Financial responsibility hearings WSR 24-18-121	Defining business rules, guidelines, and the process for conducting administrative interviews and formal hearings for financial responsibility and unsatisfied judgment cases.	Colton Myers colton.myers@dol.wa.gov	September 4, 2024	N/A
Technical corrections WSR 25-12-106	DOL's 2025 agency request legislation to repeal and amend WAC to align with federal and state directives, as well as provide technical language and reference corrections to implement HB [ESHB] 1439.	Colton Myers colton.myers@dol.wa.gov	N/A	N/A
Initial orders finality WSR 25-08-090	Clarify initial orders become final without a petition for review from licensees.	Ellis Starrett estarrett@dol.wa.gov	April 2, 2025	May 21, 2025
Real estate fee updates WSR 25-13-106	Updating the current Washington Center for Real Estate Research fee on real estate licenses from $10 to $20 as part of HB 1552 bill implementation from the 2025 legislative session.	Kelsey Stone kelsey.stone@dol.wa.gov	N/A	N/A