Current rulemaking activity

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.

Notary public electronic records

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Notaries public
In progress

Current rule(s)

Chapter 308-30 WAC, Notaries Public

We're adopting rules to reflect new services notaries can provide. We're also defining methods for confirming record identities and addressing the creation of duplicate originals.

Current step

April 22, 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.

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.

Professional conduct of attorneys during administrative hearings

  • Driver licensing
    • Hearings
Completed

Current rule(s)

We created new rules governing the professional conduct of attorneys appearing before the agency during administrative proceedings.

Current step

March 24, 2026

New rule adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing on this rulemaking activity on January 7, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) devices

  • Driver licensing
In progress

Current rule(s)

Title 308 WAC: Department of Licensing

We're creating rules governing intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices. These rules will establish requirements, eligibility criteria, application processes, and licensing terms concerning ISA devices.

Current step

March 4, 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.

Scrap metal fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Scrap metal
Completed

Current rule(s)

WAC 308-70-130 - Fees

We conducted rulemaking to remove the catalytic converter inspection fee. The fee set in statute didn't include scrap metal businesses.

Current step

March 11, 2026

Rule change adopted

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

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