List of rulemaking activity

Suspended driver licenses and safe driving courses

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Drivers' licenses (Chapter 308-104 WAC)

We're adopting requirements about license suspensions due to multiple traffic offenses and safe driving courses. These changes follow a new law that lowers the number of traffic offenses that will lead to a license suspension and requires people who are suspended to complete a safe driving course.

Current step

November 30, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Age requirements for driver knowledge exams

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Administration of examinations (WAC 308-110-030 and WAC 308-104-046)

Right now, our rules limit how young a person can be to take the knowledge exam to get a permit beyond what the law requires. This rule change would match the age requirements under RCW 46.20.055.

Current step

November 28, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held September 27, 2022

Vehicle reports of sale

  • Vehicle and boat registration
  • All business and professional licensing
    • Vehicle and boat dealers
Completed

Current rule(s)

Vehicle seller's report of sale (WAC 308-56A-525)

We're proposing to allow vehicle dealers to file reports of sale on behalf of customers who sell, trade in, or otherwise transfer ownership to the dealer.

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.

Driver hearing procedures

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Eligibility for hearing (WAC 308-101-040); Signatures (WAC 308-101-070); Scheduling — Notice of hearing (WAC 308-101-090); Continuances (WAC 308-101-120); Subpoenas (WAC 308-101-150); Filing of exhibits and other documents with the department (WAC 308-101-155); Video evidence (WAC 308-101-170); Format and length for briefs (WAC 308-101-180); Conduct of hearings (WAC 308-101-210)

We're updating the procedures, guidelines, and language of the hearing rules to match the intent of the law. These updates make hearings comply with the law, clarify procedures that are unclear, allow procedures that are currently disallowed, explain what isn't part of the procedures anymore, and use more inclusive language.

Current step

March 13, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held January 25, 2023

Financial responsibility hearings

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Administration of the Financial Responsibility Act – Procedures (Chapter 308-102 WAC)

These rule changes update and clarify the process of financial responsibility hearings. We're making the rules comply with the law, simplifying parts of the rule that are hard to read, and using more inclusive language.

Current step

March 13, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held January 25, 2023

Commercial driver license (CDL) definitions

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Definitions (WAC 308-100-005); Minimum training requirements (WAC 308-100-033); Employer certification (WAC 308-100-035); Examination requirement for commercial driver's license (WAC 308-100-040); Examination fees (WAC 308-100-050); Intrastate waiver (WAC 308-100-100); Serious traffic violations (WAC 308-100-130); Third-party testing fee (WAC 308-100-180)

We changed the current definitions related to commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to make it easier to get a CDL. This includes clarifying rules about training, testing, and reporting requirements for CDL holders, training providers, and employers. Our goal is to allow Washington to train more CDL holders, improve agency efficiency and oversight, and ensure that we're following state laws and federal regulations.

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

Market value threshold for destroyed or wrecked vehicles

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Destroyed or wrecked vehicle—Reporting—Rebuilt (WAC 308-56A-460)

We plan to update the market value threshold for destroyed and wrecked vehicles. This is required by law.

Current step

January 4, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held September 9, 2022

CDL disqualifications

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Hearing procedural rules - Final orders (WAC 308-101-230)

We created a new chapter to define how we review CDL disqualifications, including business rules, guidelines, and processes.

Current step

November 13, 2023

New rule adopted

Public hearing or comments

A public hearing was held October 31, 2023 at 10 a.m.