Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5720: Uniform debt default act
Status: Signed into law, March 18, 2026
Enacting the uniform consumer debt default judgments act.
What the bill says
An act Relating to the uniform consumer debt default judgments act; amending RCW 19.16.260; adding a new chapter to Title 4 RCW; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to the uniform consumer debt default judgments act; amending RCW 19.16.260; adding a new chapter to Title 4 RCW; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. TITLE.This chapter may be known and cited as the uniform consumer debt default judgments act. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. INTENT.The legislature enacted critical protections for consumers in 2020 through the passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2476 regarding debt buyers. In enacting the uniform consumer debt default judgments act, the legislature intends to broaden those protections and (2) imposing new disclosure requirements in all actions to collect consumer debt and new remedies in actions in which those requirements are not satisfied. NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. DEFINITIONS.In this chapter: (1) "Affiliate" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 48.31B.005. (2) "Charge off" means a creditor's removal of a consumer debt as an asset from the creditor's financial records. (3) "Consumer" means an individual named as a defendant in an action for collection of a consumer debt to which this chapter applies. (4) "Consumer debt" means an obligation or alleged obligation of an individual to pay money that arises out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance, or service that is the subject of the transaction is primarily for a personal, family, or household purpose. (5) "Creditor" means …
Sponsors
- Jamie Pedersen (D) · primary sponsor
- Judith Warnick (R)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 1/1/2027.
- : Chapter 107, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : Speaker signed.
- : President signed.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 4.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (March 4, 2026): 93 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary: Do pass (February 24, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 5, 2026): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Law & Justice: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5720 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (January 22, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CIVIL ACTIONS AND PROCEDURE, NAMED ACTS
Common questions
- What is SB5720?
- SB5720 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Uniform debt default act.
- What does SB5720 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to the uniform consumer debt default judgments act; amending RCW 19.16.260; adding a new chapter to Title 4 RCW; and providing an effective date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5720?
- Signed into law as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 1/1/2027. (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5720?
- Jamie Pedersen (D), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB5720?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5720&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.