Current rulemaking activity

Undercover and confidential license plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
Emergency rule

Current rule(s)

We're conducting emergency rulemaking to clarify the department's authority to deny, cancel, or refuse to renew confidential and undercover license plates based on the conduct of units for local government, state departments, agencies and officials, and federal departments and agencies.

Current step

May 28, 2026

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Submit comments online

Cosmetology training requirements for textured hair

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Cosmetologists
In progress

Current rule(s)

WAC 308-20-080 — Minimum instruction requirements for cosmetology, hair design, barbering, manicuring, esthetics and master esthetics training

We're updating existing rules for cosmetology training requirements for textured hair. The update will apply to all cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, and hair designers.

Current step

May 20, 2026

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're holding a public hearing on this rulemaking activity on June 23, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Join the hearing via Zoom
Meeting ID: 828 6486 0342
Passcode: 083403
One tap mobile +12532050468,,82864860342#,,,,*083403# (US) or +12532158782,,82864860342#,,,,*083403# (US, Tacoma)
Join by SIP: 82864860342@zoomcrc.com
Instructions for joining

If you have trouble accessing the virtual meeting, call us at 360-902-3486 to request help. If you'd like to request an interpreter or other accommodations, you can email us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov. Please be sure to do this at least one week before the public hearing.

Note: We encourage hearing participants to attend in-person. If you attend virtually and have technical difficulties, you'll need to use the call-in option. The in-person attendance will take place at the Highways and Licensing Building, located at:

1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Map and directions

Submit comments online

Electronic documentation for disabled parking permits

  • Driver licensing
    • Disabled parking permits
  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're defining requirements for healthcare professionals when using electronic documentation to request special parking privileges for persons with disabilities.

Current step

April 1, 2026

Intent to create a new rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Conducting administrative interviews and formal hearings

  • Driver licensing
    • Hearings
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're defining the process for administrative interviews and formal hearings for financial responsibility and unsatisfied judgment cases. We're also removing fax use as a submission option.

Current step

May 20, 2026

Intent to create a new rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Home inspector standards of practice

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Home inspectors
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're considering rulemaking to update definitions and standards of practice related to home inspectors. The Washington State Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board requested this change.

Current step

May 20, 2026

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're holding a public hearing on this rulemaking activity on June 25, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Join the hearing via Zoom
Meeting ID: 892 9551 0240
Passcode: 614440
One tap mobile: +12532050468,,89295510240#,,,,*614440# (US, toll free) or +12532158782,,89295510240#,,,,*614440# (US, Tacoma)
Join by SIP: 89295510240@zoomcrc.com

If you have trouble accessing the virtual meeting, call us at 360-902-3486 to request help. If you'd like to request an interpreter or other accommodations, you can email us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov. Please be sure to do this at least one week before the public hearing.

Note: We encourage hearing participants to attend in-person. If you attend virtually and have technical difficulties, you'll need to use the call-in option. The in-person attendance will take place at the Highways and Licensing Building, located at:

1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Map and directions

Submit your comments online

Free or limited-fee license plate replacements

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

Chapter 308-96A WAC (Vehicle licensing)

We're proposing rules to create standards for free or limited fee license plate replacements.

Current step

May 6, 2026

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Inclusive language in driver license rules

  • Driver licensing
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're updating these rules based on petitions we received from the public requesting inclusive pronoun use.

Current step

May 6, 2026

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Qualified veteran's free license

  • Driver licensing
In progress

Current rule(s)

WAC 308-96A-046: Qualified Veteran's Free License

We're conducting rulemaking to accept additional letters of eligibility, allow all personal use vehicles to qualify, and clarify scenarios where customers would be required to pay.

Current step

May 6, 2026

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

Law judge titles

  • Driver licensing
    • Hearings
Completed

Current rule(s)

We updated references to hearing examiners, after they were renamed to law judges in July 2025.

Current step

April 22, 2026

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We conducted this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminates the need for us to hold public hearings. If you object to the use of the expedited process for this rule change, you must object in writing. Email your objection to rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov or mail it to:

Rules Coordinator
Department of Licensing
1125 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Personalized license plate approvals and denials

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

WAC 308-96A-065 Personalized License Plates

We're proposing rule changes to clarify the process of cancelling personalized license plate requests. The goal is to have a more equitable and consistent process for approving or denying personalized license plates.

Current step

April 22, 2026

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

You can participate in this rulemaking activity by contacting us at rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov.

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