List of rulemaking activity

Internal agency practice

  • Other
Completed

Current rule(s)

Practice and Procedure (Chapter 308-08 WAC)

We created a new rule to clarify current agency practices. The new rule allows us to finalize initial orders that didn't get a petition for review by their deadline.

Current step

July 8, 2025

New rule adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing on this rulemaking activity on June 24, 2025.

 

Driver training schools

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Driver training schools
Completed

Current rule(s)

We changed the rules for driver training schools to align with the latest national standards. We updated what courses need to include and what instructors should know. We also got rid of any old or unnecessary wording.

Current step

June 13, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on May 6, 2025.

Vehicle and vessel ownership in doubt

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • Boats
    • Vehicle records
In progress

Current rule(s)

  • Ownership in Doubt - Bonded title or three-year registration without title (WAC 308-56A-210)
  • Ownership in Doubt - Bonded title or three-year registration without title (WAC 308-93-440)

We're considering rulemaking to clarify agency rules regarding release of interest from previously registered and legal owners when applying for a vehicle title through the Ownership in Doubt process.

Current step

June 18, 2025

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

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

Real estate broker and managing broker licensing fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Real estate
In progress

Current rule(s)

Real estate fees (WAC 308-124A-775)

We're considering rulemaking to increase the fees for new and renewed real estate broker and managing broker licenses. The proposed rule will increase the fee from $10 to $20. The purpose of this increase is to fund the Real Estate Research Center.

Current step

June 18, 2025

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We proposed 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

Administrative Law Office

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

We updated rules to align with changing the name of the Hearings and Interviews unit to the Administrative Law Office.

Current step

May 28, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We proposed this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminated 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

Driver hearings correspondence

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Correspondence address (WAC 308-102-006)

We updated this rule to reflect the recent name change of the Hearings and Interviews Unit to the Administrative Law Office.

Current step

January 10, 2025

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We proposed this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminated 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

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

June 4, 2025

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're holding a public hearing on this rulemaking activity on July 8, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Join the hearing via Zoom.
Meeting ID: 823 0815 6923
Passcode: 734100
One tap mobile: +12532158782,,82308156923#,,,,*734100# (USA, Tacoma) or +12532050468,,82308156923#,,,,*734100# (USA)

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

Honorary consul plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
    • License plates
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're proposing to repeal a rule to align with directives regarding issuance of honorary consul plates. We're also amending rules to make technical corrections to language and references.

Current step

June 4, 2025

Rule repeal proposed

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

Real estate broker education and license renewals

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Real estate
Completed

Current rule(s)

Broker first active renewal (WAC 308-124A-785); Continuing education clock hour requirements (WAC 308-124A-790); Course titles reserved for prescribed curriculum courses (WAC 308-124H-810); General requirements for course approval (WAC 308-124H-820); Secondary education provider course content approval application (WAC 308-124H-825)

We're proposing rules requiring new and current real estate licensees to take instructional courses about fair housing and preventing unfair housing practices. We'll be responsible for providing the curriculum. The proposed rules would add the fair housing course to the current rules, edit the rules to be clearer, create new requirements for licensees, and subject licensees to audits.

Current step

July 6, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held June 8, 2022

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

We proposed this rule change under an expedited process (RCW 34.05.353). This process eliminated 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

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Learn more about rulemaking

Learn how we make rules

Find out how we create and change rules related to licensing.

Understand the terms we use

Read our rulemaking definitions for the terms we use when working on rules.

See our semiannual rulemaking agenda

Our semiannual rulemaking agenda is the current list of rule changes that we're considering. We update it twice a year.

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