List of rulemaking activity

Semiautomatic assault rifle fee

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Firearms dealers
Completed

Current rule(s)

Semiautomatic assault rifle fee (WAC 308-500-010)

We removed the requirement for firearm dealers to charge a fee for semiautomatic assault rifle purchases. This change allows firearms dealers to charge a background check fee for the Secure Automated Firearm E-check system run by the Washington State Patrol.

Current step

March 26, 2024

Rule repealed

Public hearing or comments

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
Withdrawn

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

October 24, 2024

Rule change withdrawn

Public hearing or comments

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

Deterring catalytic converter theft

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

Current rule(s)

Motor vehicle dealers and manufacturers (Chapter 308-66 WAC)

We're proposing a new rule to clarify requirements for vehicle dealers when marking catalytic converters prior to sale.

Current step

October 2, 2024

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

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

Real estate appraiser fees and charges

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Appraisers
    • Real estate
Completed

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

September 19, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held public hearings for this rulemaking activity on August 28, 2024 and September 18, 2024.

Habitual traffic offender probation

  • Driver licensing
In progress

Current rule(s)

Probation in habitual traffic offender matters (WAC 308-101-240)

We're clarifying probation guidelines and terms in habitual traffic offender matters.

Current step

September 4, 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.

Administrative procedures

  • Driver licensing
In progress

Current rule(s)

Hearing Procedural Rules (Chapter 308-101 WAC)

We're amending this rule to better define business rules and guidelines. We're also clarifying the process for conducting administrative interviews and formal hearings for Financial Responsibility and Unsatisfied Judgment cases.

Current step

September 4, 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.

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.

Destroyed or wrecked vehicles, temporary license plates for off-road vehicle dealers

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Destroyed or wrecked vehicle—Reporting—Rebuilt (WAC 308-56A-460); Delivery of off-road vehicle on dealer temporary permit (WAC 308-94A-035)

We updated the current market value threshold amount of destroyed or wrecked vehicles according to the law. For off-road vehicle dealers, we replaced references to temporary permits to temporary license plates.

Current step

July 26, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

CDL hearings

  • Driver licensing
Withdrawn

Current rule(s)

Hearing procedural rules (Chapter 308-101 WAC)

We're withdrawing new rules to clarify business practices, procedures, and guidelines about CDLs and hearing requests, requests for interpreters, defining good cause, and defining the requirements to request a hearing as a Habitual Traffic Offender.

Current step

August 16, 2023

New rule withdrawn

Public hearing or comments

No public hearing was held.

Was this information helpful?