Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SJM8006: Limited license legal tech.
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Concerning the limited license legal technician program.
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
S-0449.1 SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8006 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session BySenators Torres and Hasegawa Prefiled 01/07/25.Read first time 01/13/25.Referred to Committee on Law & Justice. TO THE HONORABLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT: We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as and WHEREAS, The shortage of available attorneys is felt in many other areas by low and moderate-income Washingtonians, as confirmed by the Civil Legal Needs Studies from 2003 and 2015, which found that these Washingtonians frequently cannot access or afford legal services; and WHEREAS, Experience in Washington State proves that a portion of this access problem can be ameliorated safely and with adequate client protections and controls by creation of opportunities for expansion of the authorized practice of law; and WHEREAS, Beginning in 2012, this Court established a limited license legal technician program in Washington State to authorize certain persons to render limited legal assistance or advice in approved practice areas of law, and saw the first class of limited license legal technician candidates graduate in 2014 with new limited license legal technicians continuing to be eligible for licensure until 2023, provided the candidates had started their educational requirements by June 4, 2020; and WHEREAS, A …
Sponsors
- Nikki Torres (R) · primary sponsor
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : Minority; do not pass.
- : Minority; without recommendation.
- : CRJ - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.
Votes
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary: Do pass (February 25, 2026): 9 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Final Passage (January 28, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary: Do pass (March 19, 2025): 10 yea, 3 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 5, 2025): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Law & Justice: Do pass (January 23, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: JOINT MEMORIALS
Common questions
- What is SJM8006?
- SJM8006 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Limited license legal tech.
- What does SJM8006 do?
- Concerning the limited license legal technician program.
- What is the status of SJM8006?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SJM8006?
- Nikki Torres (R), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SJM8006?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=8006&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.