These 10 laws just took effect in Washington state. Here’s what you need to know
Summer brings several changes — warmer weather, shorter days and even new legislation.
A new set of Washington state laws took effect June 11, bringing changes that affect everything from grocery shopping trips and rental properties to sports betting and traffic stops.
Here’s a breakdown of 10 new state laws — and what they mean for you:
New Washington law lets retailers adjust prices
The federal government stopped producing new pennies in November, putting one-cent coins in short supply.
A new bill that went into effect June 11 offers a solution for shoppers who may run a little short at the cash register.
Senate Bill 2334 allows retailers to adjust the price of cash transactions.
Total sales are rounded down to the nearest nickel if the transaction ends in one, two, six or seven cents, McClatchy Media previously reported.
If the sales price ends in three, four, eight or nine cents, the final digit is “rounded up to the nearest amount divisible by five cents,” the law says.
Such rounding occurs after all discounts, fees, adjustments or taxes have been factored in, and it doesn’t affect transactions using other payment methods, such as credit cards.
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What are penalties for impersonating a police officer?
Impersonating a law enforcement officer now comes with stiffer penalties in Washington state.
State law already prohibited people from impersonating an officer by wearing clothes, displaying a badge or using a vehicle bearing the insignia of a law enforcement agency such as U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, McClatchy Media previously reported.
House Bill 2165, which took effect June 11, makes falsely claiming to be a cop a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in county jail.
“Criminals posing as ICE officers (are) carrying out robberies, kidnappings and sexual assaults in several states,” state Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, said in a March 19 statement. “This is unacceptable and erodes the public’s trust in law enforcement.”
Are workers required to get microchips?
Now in effect, House Bill 2303 bans employers from requiring employees and job applicants to have microchips or similar trackers implanted.
Lawmakers want to “protect employees and job applicants from any form of compelled implantation of microchips or similar technology by employers,” the official text of HB 2303 reads.
However, the new law does not limit “medically necessary implants” or devices implanted for health care purposes with the patient’s “voluntary, informed consent.”
New law changes rules for college sports betting
Rules are changing for sports betting in Washington state.
Under Senate Bill 6137, which went into effect June 11, gamblers can now place wagers on in-state collegiate teams at tribal casinos.
That includes betting on University of Washington, Washington State University and Gonzaga games.
However, the bill bans on betting on the performance of individual student athletes.
“Prior to this bill, there had been a lot of illegal gambling in terms of betting on in-state college sports, and we wanted to bring that into ... a well-regulated arena,” Cortes, the bill’s co-author, told UW’s The Daily in May.
How will traffic stops for drivers change?
For people on the autism spectrum, traffic stops can be an especially stressful experience.
“People who are neurodiverse may react in a manner that could be misunderstood in the context of a traffic stop, inadvertently resulting in an escalation of the situation,” the official text of House Bill 2323 reads.
The bill, which took effect June 11, aims to improve communication between law enforcement officers and drivers.
HB 2323 creates a “blue envelope program” with instructions for both parties.
“Instructions could include avoiding loud noises, touching and bright lights, speaking calmly and asking simple questions,” the Washington State Standard reported.
Are schools allowed to physically restrain students?
A new state law that took effect June 11 aims to improve student safety in public schools.
House Bill 1795 prevents staff members from using any restraints on students that restrict breathing or blood flow to the brain.
Schools also can’t build or reconfigure rooms for the purpose of isolating students.
In addition, HB 1795 implements a trauma-informed developmental program to educate staffers on alternatives to restraint or isolation.
Do tribes need to be consulted about energy projects?
House Bill 2496 improves communication with Native American tribes when it comes to new energy facilities on sacred lands.
Within 90 days of receiving an energy project application, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council must consult with tribes to address concerns and find ways to mitigate them.
The bill, which went into effect June 11, also allows tribes to identify important structures or tribal resources that could be affected by construction.
Does my landlord have to tell me about flooding?
In Washington state, landlords are required to disclose to a number of issues to potential renters, including mold and lead-based paint.
Senate Bill 6237 updates the list of disclosures to include flood risks.
Landlords must tell would-be tenants if a rental property is located in a special flood hazard area or an area of potential flooding.
However, the bill does not require the landlord to fix issues resulting in flood damage or provide flood insurance.
Tenants are responsible for any personal property lost in the case of flooding.
Where can homeless shelters be built in Washington state?
A new state law lowers barriers to building homeless shelters and similar housing in residential areas and hotel development zones.
House Bill 2266, which took effect June 11, “creates statewide standards for permitting for permanent supportive housing, transitional housing and emergency housing,” the Washington State Governor’s Office said, ensuring that housing “can be built more quickly and predictably across our state.”
HB 2266 requires housing for homeless people to be permitted in urban areas “on the same terms as other types of lodging and residential development,” the bill’s official text reads.
Local governments are also barred for placing stricter conditions on so-called STEP housing.
Who can be called a nurse in Washington state?
A chatbot can give you medical advice, but is it a nurse?
House Bill 2155 bars nonhuman entities such as artificial intelligence programs, hospital robots or automated triage tools from using certain titles.
Under the new law, only licensed human professionals can use titles such as “nurse,” “registered nurse” or “RN,” and provide nursing services, the Washington State Nurses Association said.
“With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, it’s important for Washingtonians to know that AI cannot act as a licensed nurse or claim to be one,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a March bill signing ceremony.