Bill > HB1973

This bill addresses issues with professional licensing accounts and fees, specifically providing relief for situations where the state department has made an error that would necessitate a significant fee increase. The bill creates two main provisions: first, it allows the department up to three consecutive biennia (six years) to balance professional license accounts if an error would otherwise require a fee increase of more than 33 percent; second, it mandates that for the real estate appraiser commission account, the department must identify individuals who were charged excessive fees due to departmental errors within the past 12 months and issue them a one-time refund. The bill is classified as an emergency measure, which means it takes effect immediately upon passage, with the stated purpose of preserving public peace, health, safety, or supporting state government operations. The legislation aims to provide financial flexibility for licensing departments and protect professionals from bearing the full cost of administrative errors.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1973&Year=2025&Initiative=false