Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB1909: Court unification task force
Status: Signed into law, March 24, 2026
Establishing the court unification task force.
What the bill says
An act Relating to establishing the court unification task force; adding a new chapter to Title 2 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to establishing the court unification task force; adding a new chapter to Title 2 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds (b) Specific groups of Washingtonians, such as those living in rural areas or in poverty, may be inequitably impacted by courts' disparate adoption of technology to create remote filing, record sharing, processes, procedures, and hearings; (c) Disparate local rules and adoption of technology make it difficult for lawyers, including those engaging in pro bono and legal aid work, to practice in multiple jurisdictions, exacerbating Washington's "legal deserts"; (d) Washingtonians seeking legal help may encounter inequitable outcomes due to disparate funding levels and standards from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; (e) City and county leaders have expressed significant and urgent concerns with their ability to fund and implement the Washington state bar association's new standards for indigent defense, which derive from a constitutional mandate; and (f) Disparate funding between the state's court systems can cause inequitable and inconsistent means for jurisdictions to implement and uphold best legal practices and standards. (2) The legislature further finds that potential solutions to these issues warrant further study, including data collection to better understand the impact to the public and the legal profession of disparate local rules, technology, and funding between Washington's …
Sponsors
- Jamila Taylor (D) · primary sponsor
- Roger Goodman (D)
- Natasha Hill (D)
- Adam Bernbaum (D)
- Darya Farivar (D)
- Tarra Simmons (D)
- Strom Peterson (D)
- Nicole Macri (D)
- Lillian Ortiz-Self (D)
- Amy Walen (D)
- Alex Ramel (D)
- Cindy Ryu (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 199, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : President signed.
- : Speaker signed.
- : Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 3.
- : House concurred in Senate amendments.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 11, 2026): 57 yea, 38 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 6, 2026): 30 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Law & Justice: Do pass as amended (February 24, 2026): 6 yea, 1 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 16, 2026): 56 yea, 36 nay, passed
- House Committee on Appropriations: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass (February 7, 2026): 18 yea, 7 nay, passed
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (February 18, 2025): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: COURTS
Common questions
- What is HB1909?
- HB1909 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Court unification task force.
- What does HB1909 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to establishing the court unification task force; adding a new chapter to Title 2 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB1909?
- Signed into law as of March 24, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1909?
- Jamila Taylor (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1909?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1909&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.