Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2632: Noncitizen terminology
Status: Signed into law, March 11, 2026
Modernizing terminology when referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States.
What the bill says
An act Relating to modernizing terminology when referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States; amending RCW 1.20.130, 4.16.210, 7.68.030, 7.68.030, 7.68.077, 7.68.094, 9.41.010, 9.41.070, 9.41.070, 9.41.0975, 9.41.0975, 9.41.121, 9.41.129, 9.41.129, 9.41.171, 9.41.173, 9.41.175, 9.94A.685, 13.50.260, 18.165.030, 18.170.030, 18.185.250, 19.220.010, 28A.300.390, 28A.300.395, 41.32.240, 51.04.030, 51.04.030, 51.32.110, 51.32.130, 51.32.140, 64.16.005, 64.16.140, 71.05.620, 72.09.560, 72.25.010, 72.25.030, 72.27.070, 74.04.805, and 34.05.353…
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to modernizing terminology when referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States; amending RCW 1.20.130, 4.16.210, 7.68.030, 7.68.030, 7.68.077, 7.68.094, 9.41.010, 9.41.070, 9.41.070, 9.41.0975, 9.41.0975, 9.41.121, 9.41.129, 9.41.129, 9.41.171, 9.41.173, 9.41.175, 9.94A.685, 13.50.260, 18.165.030, 18.170.030, 18.185.250, 19.220.010, 28A.300.390, 28A.300.395, 41.32.240, 51.04.030, 51.04.030, 51.32.110, 51.32.130, 51.32.140, 64.16.005, 64.16.140, 71.05.620, 72.09.560, 72.25.010, 72.25.030, 72.27.070, 74.04.805, and 34.05.353; reenacting and amending RCW 9.41.010 and 74.62.030; adding a new section to chapter 1.16 RCW; providing effective dates; and providing expiration dates. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 1.16 RCW to read as follows: The term "noncitizen" means an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States. Sec. 2. RCW 1.20.130 and 2002 c 307 s 2 are each amended to read as follows: (1)(a) All state and local government statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents enacted after July 1, 2002, are required to use the term "Asian" when referring to persons of Asian descent. The use of the term "Oriental" is prohibited. (((2)))(b) The legislature urges all state and local entities to review their statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents and revise them to omit the use of the term "Oriental" when referring to persons of Asian descent. (2) Except where required by …