Washington state legislators had an action-packed 2025 session, leaving Gov. Bob Ferguson to sign loads of bills into law.
Some new laws took effect immediately while others had a longer wait time. A number of them kick in this week, including a gas-tax hike of 6 cents per gallon and protections for immigrant workers.
Here’s a sampling of some of the state’s newest laws.
Hunting, fishing license fees
State lawmakers passed legislation this year that raises fees for hunting and fishing licenses by 38%. Certain discounts are available, including a hunting-license senior discount.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife made a point to say on its website that it did not request the legislation. WDFW noted that revenue for the department will get a boost under the bill, but that it will mostly be used to cover increased costs. The remainder of that money will “offset State General Fund reductions as a fund swap.”
“The swap is $10.1 million for 2025-27 and $7 million per biennium ongoing thereafter,” the department says.
Gas tax increase
The state’s gas tax increased by 6 cents per gallon on Tuesday. Starting next July it’ll climb 2% annually to help keep up with inflation and the rise in ownership of fuel-efficient vehicles.
The diesel tax also is rising this week by an additional 3 cents. It’ll climb another 3 cents two years after, with a 2% spike each year beginning summer 2028 applied to that added 6 cents.
Proponents of the tax bump argue it’s needed to continue funding key transportation projects amid ballooning inflation.
Still, drivers haven’t exactly welcomed the tax increase.
State Rep. Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, who chairs the state’s Republican Party, said in a statement he wants Washington to walk back the recent increases.
“Let’s focus on common-sense transportation projects and give Washington taxpayers a break by reversing the latest gas tax hikes,” he said.
Immigrant safeguards
Under the new law, employers can’t deny earned pay and fair compensation, food and rest breaks and other protected labor rights while threatening to call federal immigration authorities to report employees or their loved ones. Such workers could, however, tip off the Department of Labor and Industries about their employer, prompting a probe.
Violations include a $1,000 civil penalty for the first offense, $5,000 for the second and $10,000 for any later offenses.
“We’re facing a crisis across the state and country,” Hasegawa said in a May 12 news release. “Immigration status is being weaponized against permanent residents, citizens, refugees, asylum seekers, students, and more — the workplace is no exception.”
Equal pay
Signed into law in March 2024, House Bill 1905 took effect Tuesday. The bill broadens the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act to safeguard all protected classes, “including gender, rather than only cover workplace discrimination against women specifically,” as noted by the Association of Washington Cities.
A new law sponsored by state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, an Anacortes Democrat, offers the legal framework for both tribal and state law enforcement agencies to certify tribal warrants as state warrants.
An example: If a Swinomish tribal member were violated on the reservation but the offender had since fled, then the victim might not see justice, Lekanoff previously said, according to the Salish Current. Since the state hasn’t recognized tribal warrants, that offender couldn’t be brought back to the tribal lands to face justice in tribal court.
HB 1829 closes that loophole by updating the Tribal Warrants Act. It allows law enforcement outside of a tribe’s jurisdiction to arrest suspects with tribal warrants, sending them to local superior court for return to the tribal jurisdiction.
“This critical legislation strengthens our shared commitment to public safety, upholds the rights of victims, and ensures that no one is left behind when harm occurs,” Lekanoff, who’s Tlingit, said in a Tuesday news release.
© 2025 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.). Visit www.bellinghamherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
