Bill > HB2248

This bill makes several changes to how the secretary of state's corporations and charities division processes various filings and documents. It clarifies that assignments of trademarks must be in writing and recorded with the secretary of state within three months to be valid against subsequent purchasers, and it removes a previous requirement for the secretary of state to issue a new certificate upon assignment. The bill also establishes procedures for the reinstatement of registrations for international student exchange visitor placement organizations and clarifies that the secretary of state's role in filing entity documents is ministerial, focusing on documenting the date of receipt and processing rather than the content's accuracy. Additionally, it updates the requirements for initial and annual reports filed by domestic and foreign entities, including specifying that the secretary of state will send renewal notices via mail or email and that failure to file or pay fees can lead to administrative dissolution. The bill also modifies fee structures for certain filings and introduces a new provision for collecting annual license or renewal fees, with a portion going to the state treasury and the remainder to the secretary of state's revolving fund. It also requires a copy of the name change document from the jurisdiction of formation when amending a foreign entity's registration statement due to a name change, and it explicitly states that employing a remote worker residing in Washington does not constitute doing business in the state. Finally, the bill expands the types of documents for which the secretary of state cannot certify or attest to a notary public's signature, specifically excluding individually created documents that should be issued by a government entity.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2248&Year=2025&Initiative=false