Bill > SB5294

This bill consolidates multiple professional licensing accounts into the state's business and professions account, transferring dedicated funds from several specific professional licensing accounts (including architects, auctioneers, cosmetologists, embalmers, landscape architects, real estate appraisers, court reporters, private investigators, and others) into a single state treasury account. The bill amends existing law to expand the list of professional licensing fees that will be deposited into the business and professions account, while repealing the existing separate accounts for these professions. Additionally, the bill requires the director of the responsible state department to prepare a biennial budget request based on anticipated licensing activity costs and mandates an annual report detailing revenues and expenditures for each professional licensing chapter using the account, starting in September 2026. Any remaining balances in the eliminated licensing accounts will be transferred to the business and professions account by February 28, 2026, after the completion of the fiscal year 2025 financial statement. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026, providing a transition period for implementing the new consolidated accounting approach.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5294&Year=2025&Initiative=false