List of rulemaking activity

Waiving driver education requirements

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Waiver of driver education requirement—When granted (WAC 308-104-050)

We updated this rule to reflect the current process for waiving driver education requirements.

Current step

August 13, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing on June 13, 2024.

Temporary license plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Department temporary permit (WAC 308-56A-140); Delivery of vehicle on dealer temporary permit (WAC 308-56A-420); Obtaining dealer temporary permits (WAC 308-56A-425)

We're clarifying the requirements and procedures for issuing temporary license plates.

Current step

July 19, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held June 27, 2023
Virtual hearing

Business and professional licensing fees (06L Account)

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Auctioneers
    • Bail bonds
    • Camping resorts
    • Combative sports
    • Cosmetologists
    • Court reporters
    • Employment agencies
    • Home inspectors
    • Notaries public
    • Private investigators
    • Security guards
    • Tattoos, piercing, body art
    • Timeshares
In progress

Current rule(s)

  • Notaries public fees for notarial acts (308-30-220)
  • Private investigative agency, private investigator, and armed private investigator fees (WAC 308-17-150)
  • Private security guard company, private security guard, and armed private security guard fees (WAC 308-18-150)
  • Professional and amateur martial arts license fees, renewals and requirements (WAC 36-14-110)
  • Professional boxing license fees, renewals and requirements (WAC 36-12-195)
  • Timeshare fees (WAC 308-127-160)
  • Wrestling license fees, renewals and requirements (WAC 36-13-010)

We're required to set fees for each professional, occupational, or business licensing program. The fees must be enough to balance the costs of running these programs. Current fees for certain programs funded by the 06L account (Business and Professions Account) aren't enough to support them.

Current step

July 24, 2024

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

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

Real estate appraiser fees and charges

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Appraisers
    • Real estate
In progress

Current rule(s)

Fees and charges (Chapter 308-125-120 WAC)

We're proposing an increase to fees for real estate appraisers. Current fees aren't enough to cover program costs. The law requires us to review program budgets and set fees to cover administration costs. The licensing fees we collect are the only source of funds that cover program costs.

We continue to look into ways to reduce budget gaps while minimizing the impact on our licensees. For example, we replaced travel for board meetings and investigations with virtual options, where possible. This reduces travel costs for rental space, lodging, meals, staffing, mileage and more.

Current step

July 24, 2024

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're holding a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on August 28, 2024.
11 a.m.
Join the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 273 047 929 182
Passcode: CZwosL
One tap mobile +1-564-999-2000,,180522015# US (Olympia) or
Phone conference ID: 180 522 015#

If you're having difficulty joining the Zoom meeting at the time of the public hearing, please call us at 360-902-0131.

An in-person option is available at the highways and licensing building located at:
1125 Washington St SE
Olympia, WA 98504
Map and directions

Submit your comments online

Scrap metal wrecker application and fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Scrap metal
Completed

Current rule(s)

We're creating new licensing rules for vehicle wreckers and scrap metal businesses. The rules adopt a $500 catalytic converter inspection fee. These licensees must pay the fee when applying for or renewing their license. The new fee is required by a law passed during the 2024 legislative session.

Current step

June 20, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We're proposing 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

Fuel tax and proration rules

  • Prorate and fuel tax
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're implementing E-Withhold procedures, changing the appeals procedure, establishing reinstatement procedures, adding escalated penalties, and developing fuel tax discovery and investigation procedures. These changes are required by HB 1964, which passed in the 2024 legislative session.

Current step

June 20, 2024

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

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

Real estate records and responsibilities

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Real estate
Completed

Current rule(s)

Real Estate - Records and Responsibilities (Chapter 308-124C WAC)

We clarified the required documentation related to broker price opinions.

Current step

June 13, 2024

New rule adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing on May 23, 2024.

Previous public hearings

We held a listening session with stakeholders on March 18, 2024.

Prohibitions

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Appraisers
    • Appraisal management companies
Completed

Current rule(s)

Prohibitions (WAC 308-409-080)

We updated the language in this rule to include requirements from RCW 18.310.150 Disciplinary actions—Grounds. This is in response to a rulemaking petition.

Current step

June 10, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on June 7, 2024.
10 a.m.

Fees for notarial acts

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Notaries public
Completed

Current rule(s)

Fees for notarial acts (308-30-220)

We raised the maximum fees a notary may charge for notarial acts from $10 to $15. This rule change is based on a petition and additional industry feedback.

Current step

May 22, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on May 21, 2024.

Recreational vehicle dealers and manufacturers

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Vehicle and boat dealers
    • Vehicle manufacturers
In progress

Current rule(s)

Title 308 WAC

We're considering creating new rules to fulfill the requirements of SHB 1996. This bill passed during the 2024 legislative session. The new rules will cover the licensing, auditing, and regulatory oversight of recreational vehicle manufacturers and dealers.

Current step

May 22, 2024

Intent to create a new rule

Public hearing or comments

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

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