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Washington State Legislature’s 2026 regular session (part of the 2025-2026 biennium, 69th Legislature; convened January 12, 2026, and adjourned sine die on March 12, 2026) considered and advanced several firearms-related bills, many carried over from the 2025 session.
Key Bills
– HB 1152 (“Enhancing public safety by establishing secure storage requirements for firearms in vehicles and residences”): Requires safe/secure storage of firearms in homes and vehicles (e.g., locked when unattended, with escalating penalties from civil infractions to felonies if violations lead to access by minors or result in injury/death). It advanced through committees (e.g., House Civil Rights & Judiciary) and was available for floor votes in February 2026; NRA-ILA opposed it as a burdensome “one-size-fits-all” mandate infringing on self-defense rights.
– HB 2320 (“Regulation of firearm manufacturing involving three-dimensional printers, computer numerical control machines, etc.”): Restricts private manufacturing of certain firearms/parts using 3D printers or CNC machines (e.g., prohibiting production of restricted items, possession of related digital files/code in some cases). The substitute version advanced from House Civil Rights & Judiciary to Appropriations in February 2026; raised First, Second, and Fifth Amendment concerns from opponents.
– HB 2521 (“Removing fee cap on firearm background checks”): Eliminates the current cap on fees charged by Washington State Patrol for firearm background checks and expands allowable uses of fee revenue. Passed the House floor after the February 17 crossover deadline (via rules suspension) and had a Senate Ways & Means hearing scheduled for late February 2026; NRA-ILA criticized it for potentially making legal firearm acquisition prohibitively expensive.
– SB 5099 (“Protecting the public from gun violence by establishing additional requirements for licensed firearms dealers”): Imposes stricter operational rules on FFLs (e.g., enhanced licensing, reporting, recordkeeping, annual reports to legislature starting December 2026). Carried over from 2025; advanced in committee.
– SB 5349 (“Exempting concealed pistol license holders from prohibition against importing firearms classified as assault rifles”): A rare pro-gun measure to allow CPL holders to import certain “assault rifles” otherwise banned. Introduced January 2026, referred to Senate Law & Justice Committee, but limited progress noted.
Other Carry-Overs/Mentions from 2025 (active in 2026)
– HB 1163 / companion (permit-to-purchase firearms requirement): Would mandate a 5-year permit from State Patrol for gun buys, with training and delays possible.
– HB 1386 (excise tax on firearms, ammo, components): Adds ~11% tax on top of federal, with revenue for violence prevention.
– SB 5098 (restrictions on weapons in public buildings/parks/playgrounds where children present, including county fairs).
The session leaned heavily toward gun control proposals (e.g., from groups like Alliance for Gun Responsibility), with pro-gun advocates (NRA-ILA, Washington Gun Law) highlighting threats to rights and urging opposition. No major pro-Second Amendment expansions (e.g., easing carry or repealing bans) succeeded prominently.
Since the session adjourned sine die on March 12, 2026 (with budgets passed amid some drama), bills that passed both chambers may have gone to the Governor for signature/veto (check for updates on signed laws). No special session indicated as of mid-March 2026.
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