Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2114: Defective license plates
Status: Signed into law, March 24, 2026
Concerning defective license plates issued by the department of licensing.
What the bill says
An act Relating to defective license plates issued by the department of licensing; amending RCW 46.16A.200; adding a new section to chapter 46.17 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to defective license plates issued by the department of licensing; amending RCW 46.16A.200; adding a new section to chapter 46.17 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The department of licensing sells license plates, and sometimes those license plates weather quickly and become illegible. The manufacturer has indicated the license plates will be useable for a number of years, so when the plates delaminate, purchasers are justifiably upset when the replacement for the defective license plate requires payment of fees and taxes. The department of licensing cannot ignore statutory requirements to collect fees and taxes associated with replacement plates. The legislature intends to improve the department of licensing's ability to provide customer service when a license plate fails to last the expected life span by making clear that fees and taxes that were collected when a license plate is initially purchased do not apply when a defective license plate is being replaced. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.17 RCW to read as follows: (1) A person who requests a replacement license plate for a license plate that is defective may receive a replacement set of license plates: (a) Completely free of charge without being subject to the following fees, if the request is made on …
Sponsors
- Andrew Engell (R) · primary sponsor
- Natasha Hill (D)
- Adam Bernbaum (D)
- Hunter Abell (R)
- Sam Low (R)
- Hall, Zach (D)
- Tarra Simmons (D)
- Andrew Barkis (R)
- Stephanie Barnard (R)
- Janice Zahn (D)
- Jeremie Dufault (R)
- Virginia Graham (R)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 1/1/2027.
- : Chapter 172, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : President signed.
- : Speaker signed.
- : Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.
- : House concurred in Senate amendments.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 12, 2026): 96 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 4, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Transportation: Do pass (March 2, 2026): 18 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 13, 2026): 94 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Transportation: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (February 9, 2026): 26 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: MOTOR VEHICLES
Common questions
- What is HB2114?
- HB2114 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Defective license plates.
- What does HB2114 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to defective license plates issued by the department of licensing; amending RCW 46.16A.200; adding a new section to chapter 46.17 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2114?
- Signed into law as of March 24, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 1/1/2027. (March 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2114?
- Andrew Engell (R), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2114?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2114&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.