List of rulemaking activity

Driver training schools

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Driver training schools
In progress

Current rule(s)

We're changing the rules for driver training schools to align with the latest national standards. This means we’re updating what courses need to include and what instructors should know. We’re also getting rid of any old or unnecessary wording.

Current step

April 2, 2025

Rule change proposed

Public hearing or comments

We're holding a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on May 6, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Join the public hearing via Zoom
Meeting ID: 834 6566 8632
Passcode: 152465
Call in (audio only): +1 253 205 0468 (United States) or +1 253 215 8782 (United States - Tacoma)
One tap mobile +12532050468,,83465668632#,,, ,*152465# (United States) or +12532158782,,83465668632#,,, ,*152465# (United States - Tacoma)

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 comments online

Improving young driver safety

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Driver training schools
    • CDL training schools
    • Motorcycle training schools
Completed

Current rule(s)

We defined the process for training schools to submit required business information to the us. This rule applies to motorcycle safety, commercial driver license, and driver training schools. This is a requirement of SB 5583, which passed during the 2023 legislative session. We'll use this information to populate an interactive map on our website.

Current step

December 11, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on November 26, 2024.

Professional and business licensing program fees

  • All business and professional licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Licensing, Department of (Title 308 WAC: Department of Licensing)

We plan to increase fees for some professional and business licenses to help pay for the programs that issue them.

Current step

October 21, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held October 11, 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.

Current step

January 3, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

A public hearing was held on December 27, 2023.

Alternative qualifications for appraisers

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Appraisers
Completed

Current rule(s)

Real estate appraisers (Chapter 308-125 WAC)

We aligned this rule with industry recommendations. The rule change gives real estate appraisers an alternative way to get licensed.

Current step

January 9, 2024

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on December 29, 2023.

Landscape architect licensing fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Landscape architects
Completed

Current rule(s)

Fees (WAC 308-13-150)

We're increasing our fees to cover the costs of running the landscape architect program.

Current step

October 20, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held November 22, 2022

Transportation network company licensing and auditing

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Transportation network companies
Completed

Current rule(s)

Transportation network companies (Chapter 308-81 WAC)

We added a new rule chapter to support the licensing and auditing of transportation network companies.

Current step

February 9, 2024

New rule adopted

Public hearing or comments

We held a public hearing for this rulemaking activity on February 6, 2024.

Architect licensing fees

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Architects
Completed

Current rule(s)

Architect fees (Chapter 308-12-205 WAC)

We're increasing our fees to cover the costs of running the architect program.

Current step

November 30, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held November 22, 2022

Limousine vehicle requirements

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Limousines
Completed

Current rule(s)

Definitions (308-83-10 WAC)

We're decreasing the wheelbase requirement for executive sedans and SUVs as well as the passenger requirements for executive vans. This means that more modern vehicles will now meet the definition of a limousine.

Current step

April 6, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held April 4, 2023

Architect license applications and signatures

  • All business and professional licensing
    • Architects
Completed

Current rule(s)

Architects (Chapter 308-12 WAC)

We're simplifying the architect license application process and fulfilling the system requirements needed to apply online. We're also updating our signature requirements, including those for electronic signatures.

Current step

December 15, 2020

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held December 9, 2020

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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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