Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2521: Firearms background checks
Status: Signed into law, March 18, 2026
Concerning firearms background check.
What the bill says
An act Relating to firearms background check; amending RCW 43.43.580 and 43.43.580; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to firearms background check; amending RCW 43.43.580 and 43.43.580; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date. Sec. 1. RCW 43.43.580 and 2024 c 289 s 7 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The Washington state patrol shall establish a firearms background check program to serve as a centralized single point of contact for dealers to conduct background checks for firearms sales or transfers required under chapter 9.41 RCW and the federal Brady handgun violence prevention act (18 U.S.C. Sec. 921 et seq.). The Washington state patrol shall establish an automated firearms background check system to conduct background checks on applicants for the purchase or transfer of a firearm. The system must include the following (b) Provide a dealer with a notification that a firearm purchase or transfer application has been received; (c) Assign a unique identifier to the background check inquiry; (d) Provide an automated response to the dealer indicating whether the transfer may proceed or is denied, or that the check is indeterminate and will require further investigation; (e) Include measures to ensure data integrity and the confidentiality and security of all records and data transmitted and received by the system; and (f) Include a performance metrics tracking system to evaluate the performance of the background check system. (2) Upon receipt of …
Sponsors
- Timm Ormsby (D) · primary sponsor
- Liz Berry (D)
- Lisa Parshley (D)
- Gerry Pollet (D)
- Leavitt, Mari (D)
- Brandy Donaghy (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026*.
- : Chapter 100, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : President signed.
- : Speaker signed.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- : Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (March 9, 2026): 28 yea, 21 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Ways & Means: Do pass (March 2, 2026): 14 yea, 10 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 23, 2026): 53 yea, 36 nay, passed
- House Committee on Appropriations: Do pass (January 29, 2026): 18 yea, 12 nay, passed
Subjects: FIREARMS
Common questions
- What is HB2521?
- HB2521 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Firearms background checks.
- What does HB2521 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to firearms background check; amending RCW 43.43.580 and 43.43.580; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
- What is the status of HB2521?
- Signed into law as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026*. (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2521?
- Timm Ormsby (D), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2521?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2521&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.