Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5156: Elevators/smaller apartments
Status: Signed into law, March 23, 2026
Concerning elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings.
What the bill says
An act Relating to elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings; and adding new sections to chapter 19.27 RCW. NEW SECTION.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings; and adding new sections to chapter 19.27 RCW. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows: The state building code council shall adopt, by rule, for the 2027 technical codes, standards for cities and counties to allow, for apartment buildings with at most six stories and at most 24 units in total, passenger elevators minimally sized to meet federal accessibility requirements. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows: (1) The state building code council shall convene a technical advisory group to examine requirements for elevator hoistway opening protection and for two-way visual emergency communications devices, and evaluate whether current requirements properly balance cost and safety for small apartment buildings. (2) The technical advisory group convened under this subsection, in addition to the requirements under RCW 19.27.033, must (b) One building code official; (c) One position for a state elevator inspector; (d) One representative from a major elevator manufacturing company; (e) One representative of labor involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair, or any combination thereof, of elevators; (f) One representative of a nonprofit with expertise in elevators that is based in the state of Washington; (g) One representative from a disability …
Sponsors
- Jesse Salomon (D) · primary sponsor
- Jessica Bateman (D)
- Marko Liias (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
- Marcus Riccelli (D)
- Sharon Shewmake (D)
- Derek Stanford (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 145, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : Speaker signed.
- : President signed.
- : Passed final passage; yeas, 41; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 2.
- : Senate concurred in House amendments.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 4.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- Final Passage as Amended by the House (March 9, 2026): 41 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Final Passage as Amended by the House (March 4, 2026): 93 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Committee on Housing: Do pass as amended (February 23, 2026): 17 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 13, 2026): 41 yea, 7 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 19, 2025): 42 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Housing: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5156 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (January 24, 2025): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: BUILDING CODES AND PERMITS
Common questions
- What is SB5156?
- SB5156 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Elevators/smaller apartments.
- What does SB5156 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings; and adding new sections to chapter 19.27 RCW. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5156?
- Signed into law as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5156?
- Jesse Salomon (D), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5156?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5156&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.