WR is closely monitoring the bills that have advanced through the legislative process. Each week, we’ll spotlight our weekly “hot list” key legislation that could have the most significant impact on WR members.
Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) (SB 5976/HB 2274)
Modernizes the Commercial Electronic Mail Act to address abusive litigation. Companion bills in House and Senate; coalition, media, and education campaign underway. Technical clarification needed for retroactivity. HB 2274 was amended and passed out of the House policy committee, keeping the bill on track while preserving its core purpose of clarifying the law and maintaining consumer protections. It now must be pulled from Rules and passed by the full House before the February 17 House of Origin cutoff. This is a critical moment.
Trial attorneys are actively opposing changes and urging lawmakers to leave the statute as is. Meanwhile, many businesses are concerned that without targeted updates, Washington will continue to see a surge of high-volume filings, including from out-of-state firms, under a framework that differs significantly from other states.
All hands are needed right now. Please click here to contact your legislators immediately and urge them to support HB 2274 and move it to the House floor without delay.
Position: WR supports this bill.
Status: February 4: HB 2274: Referred to Rules 2 Review; February 11: SB 5976: Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development
Immigration enforcement employer requirements & penalties (HB 2105)
This bill is modeled after California’s 2017 Immigrant Worker Protection Act, but the initial version would significantly expand compliance requirements and penalties well beyond California’s framework, including establishing a private right of action and imposing high fines multiplied by the number of Washington-based employees. The bill was executed out of House Appropriations on 2/7. WR and the broader business community testified in opposition, primarily due to concerns about the private right of action.
Position: WR is opposed to this bill.
Status: February 5: First reading, referred to Community Safety.
The Retail Theft Accountability Act (HB 2729)
The Retail Theft Accountability Act, Prime sponsored byRep Dan Griffey, Minority Whip (R-35) and Rep. Mari Leavitt (D-28), targets repeat retail theft offenders by requiring completion of diversion programs or imposing minimum mandatory sentences under narrow eligibility criteria, modeled after local ordinances in jurisdictions such as Marysville and Bellevue. The bill was introduced on February 5 and referred to the House Community Safety Committee. Due to session timing, it is likely to serve primarily as a conversation starter for future sessions. In the interim, WR is focusing on education efforts and supporting local-level adoption strategies to build momentum and broader legislative support.
Position: WR supports this bill.
Status: February 5: First reading, referred to Community Safety.
Cash transactions/pennies (HB 2334 / SB 6230)
This bill would adjust cash transaction totals to eliminate the need for pennies by requiring the final amount (including applicable taxes/fees and adjustments) to be rounded to the nearest $0.05—rounding down when totals end in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents and rounding up when totals end in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents; non-cash payments (cards/electronic) would continue to be charged to the exact penny.
Position: WR supports this bill – with amendments.
Status: February 9: HB 2334: Referred to Rules 2 Review; SB 6230: Passed to Rules Committee for second reading
DOR “technical” tax-administration cleanup bills (HB 2257 / SB 6113)
This bill raises significant concern because it could expand taxation on advertising, particularly if constitutional challenges to the digital advertising tax succeed. Earlier language included a provision that would have eliminated the entire section — including existing deductions and exemptions — if any portion of the law was struck down, potentially broadening an advertising sales tax to cover physical signage, in-store displays, point-of-sale materials, print inserts, and circulars in addition to digital advertising. Due to the potential broad retail impact and ongoing legal scrutiny around differential treatment of digital versus traditional advertising, this remains a high-priority issue. As of 2/6/2026, the tax administration cleanup bill was amended to remove the Section 26 “blow-up” provision that could have eliminated key deductions and exemptions (including retail signage), with support from House leadership.
Position: WR has concerns with this bill.
Status: February 4: HB 2257: Referred to Rules 2 Review; February 9: SB 6113: Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Millionaire Tax (SB 6346)
The income tax on millionaires (SB 6346) drew the largest public response in legislative history, with 80,644 sign-ins and 61,240 opposing, representing roughly 76% of all registrants. Lawmakers gave about two hours for testimony, leaving many of the 202 would-be speakers unheard. The turnout surpassed last year’s record for the 3% property tax cap proposal, underscoring intense public resistance. Despite this, the Senate Ways & Means Committee plans to vote on the bill by the February 9 fiscal deadline. The Governor has commented on the income tax on millionaires, reaffirming his support for taxing high-income earners while sharply criticizing the spending proposal. The Governor has said he cannot support it in its current form and that it must be rewritten to deliver a major expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit and approximately $1B in small-business relief.
Position: WR has concerns with this tax.
Status: Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Bills that did not advance
Textile EPR (HB 1420)
Textile Extended Producer Responsibility program modeled on California law. Not ready this session; potential future alignment with CA assessment model.
Position: WR was opposed to this bill.
Textile EPR (HB 1420)
Textile Extended Producer Responsibility program modeled on California law. Not ready this session; potential future alignment with CA assessment model.
Position: WR was opposed to this bill.
Pathway to unionizing security guard by establishing an industry standard board (HB 2524)
This bill would have established an industry standards board for security guards. The board would set requirements for training, wages, benefits, and working conditions, create a private right of action (PRA), and be funded through workers’ compensation premium dollars. Due to concerns about increased costs, regulatory burden, and litigation exposure.
Position: WR had concerns with this bill.
Plastic Bag Ban (SB 5965)
Multiple proposals this session would revise carryout bag policies, ranging from expanded plastic bag bans and fee increases to proposals that would repeal fees and thickness requirements. WR supports data-driven flexibility and opposes measures that disproportionately impact low-income shoppers. Most recently, the Senate Environment Committee amended the plastic bag bill to ban plastic bags and set an 8¢ paper bag fee (reduced from earlier proposed higher amounts). The amendment created a negative fiscal impact, and the bill has now been referred to Ways & Means, where the key question will be whether lawmakers choose to fund the resulting revenue shortfall.
Position: WR opposed to this bill.
ORC Sentence Enhancements (HB 2209)
This bill proposed adding extra felony sentencing time when the value of stolen/possessed/trafficked property was high. It would have applied to crimes including theft, possessing stolen property, second-degree robbery, theft with intent to resell, organized retail theft, retail theft with special circumstances, and trafficking in stolen property (1st/2nd degree), adding +12 months for property valued over $20,000 up to $50,000 and +24 months for property valued over $50,000. The bill was referred to the House Community Safety Committee, received a public hearing on January 20, 2026, and then an executive session was scheduled for January 29, 2026, but no action was taken—and it did not advance.
Position: WR was in support of this bill.
