State AI law
Washington
AI laws
We track 28 artificial-intelligence bills and regulations in Washington. 13 have been signed or enacted.
Last updated Oct 16, 2026 · How we collect and check bills
Where Washington’s bills stand
28 bills- Introduced
- 0
- In committee
- 0
- Passed a chamber
- 0
- Signed or enacted
- 13
- Dead or vetoed
- 15
Overview
How Washington regulates AI
Washington has 28 published AI-related bills in our register, 13 of them signed or enacted. Every bill below links to its own page with the status, dates and a plain-English summary.
Washington AI law guides
For reporters
As of October 16, 2026, Washington has enacted 13 AI laws, according to AI Laws by State. That ties for 10th most among the 50 states and D.C.
Free to quote and reuse with credit to AI Laws by State. Cite as: AI Laws by State, “Washington AI laws,” ailawsbystate.com/state/WA, accessed October 16, 2026.
Deepfake Laws in Washington
Washington has enacted deepfake legislation. See how it compares with other states, including penalties, scope and enforcement.
Coming into force
Signed Washington laws with an effective date still ahead.
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RSS feed for WashingtonConcerning sexually explicit depictions of minors.
Washington's Chapter 223, Laws of 2026 (2ESSB 5105) responds to AI-generated child sexual abuse material. It redefines "digitization" to include computer-generated images and alteration using artificial intelligence, and extends "fabricated depiction" to obscene digitized depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct even when no real minor is identifiable (RCW 9.68A.011). The existing dealing, sending, possession and viewing felonies therefore reach such material, and the state need not prove the depicted minor exists (RCW 9.68A.110). These offenses get a 10-year statute of limitations.
Informing users when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence.
Washington's AI content provenance law (Chapter 167, Laws of 2026, effective February 1, 2027). Providers of generative AI systems with more than 1,000,000 monthly users that are publicly available in Washington must, where commercially and technically reasonable, embed provenance data in images, video and audio their systems create or materially alter, made hard to remove; a common standard such as C2PA complies. Business-to-business uses, video game experiences and upscaling or compression tools are excluded. Only the Attorney General enforces it, under the Consumer Protection Act. Separately, government agencies must tell consumers when they are interacting with an AI system.
Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.
Washington's AI companion chatbot law (Chapter 168, Laws of 2026, effective January 1, 2027). Operators must clearly disclose that the companion is AI and not human at the start of an interaction and at least every three hours, and stop it from claiming to be human. For known minors or minor-directed bots the notice is hourly, sexually explicit content is blocked and manipulative engagement (romantic bonding, guilt when leaving, isolation, secrecy, pay-to-stay) is prohibited. Every operator needs a published suicide and self-harm protocol with crisis referrals and yearly referral counts. Violations are unfair or deceptive acts under the Consumer Protection Act.
Making improvements to transparency and accountability in the prior authorization determination process.
Chapter 157, Laws of 2026 regulates AI in health insurance prior authorization (RCW 48.43.830 for carriers and RCW 41.05.845 for public employee plans). AI may not be the sole means of denying, delaying or modifying care, and algorithms may approve requests but may not deny care for medical necessity without human review. A carrier using AI must base decisions on the enrollee's clinical history and individual clinical circumstances, not solely on group data; avoid discrimination; open its AI policies to audit by the Insurance Commissioner; and periodically review AI performance. Carriers must report the share of denials aided by AI (RCW 48.43.0161).
Concerning personality rights.
Washington's Chapter 69, Laws of 2026 (SSB 5886) extends the state's right of publicity (chapter 63.60 RCW) to forged digital likenesses: realistic visual representations or audio recordings of an identifiable person, digitally created or altered to be indistinguishable from genuine ones, that misrepresent the person's appearance, speech or conduct and are likely to deceive. Unauthorized commercial use of a forged digital likeness is infringement, subject to injunctions and damages; for a forged digital likeness the infringer is also liable for noneconomic damages. Infringement carries a $3,000 civil penalty plus actual damages.
Creating an artificial intelligence grant program.
Washington's HB 1833, the Spark Act (second substitute, 2026 session), would have authorized the Department of Commerce to run an artificial intelligence grant program paid for by federal funds, gifts, grants and donations deposited in a new Spark Act grant program account. Applications would have been prioritized for ethical-AI commitments, risk analysis, small businesses and statewide impact, and proposals had to include technology shared with the state. The bill appropriated no money. It passed the House 96-1 on February 17, 2026 but stalled in the Senate and died on March 12.
Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools.
Washington's SB 5956 (1st substitute, 2026 session) would have limited AI, automated decision systems (ADS) and surveillance technology in public school discipline. An ADS could not have been the sole or determinative basis for a discipline decision, districts could not have used ADS risk scores or watchlists predicting misconduct or violence, and biometric data could not have been used to infer emotions or other sensitive traits. It passed the Senate 35-13 on February 10, 2026 but was returned to Senate Rules on March 12 and died at adjournment.
Regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use.
Washington's HB 2157 (Substitute House Bill, 2026 session) would have required developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems, those specifically intended to make, or be a substantial factor in making, consequential decisions such as employment, lending, housing, insurance, health care and education, to use reasonable care against algorithmic discrimination, with developer documentation, deployer risk programs and impact assessments, consumer notices, and private lawsuits. It died when the session adjourned March 12, 2026, after the House Rules "X" file on February 19.
Prohibiting surveillance-based price discrimination and surge pricing for retail goods.
Washington's HB 2481, the fair pricing and transparency act (2026 session), would have barred non-small businesses selling grocery products from surveillance-based price discrimination (prices set from monitoring or automated analysis of a consumer's personal data) and from surge pricing based on real-time or predicted demand; 'algorithm' is defined to include AI. It would also have barred electronic shelf labels in stores of 15,000 square feet or more until January 1, 2030; violations would be Consumer Protection Act violations. It was heard in House Appropriations on February 5, 2026 and died at adjournment.
Providing consumer protections for artificial intelligence systems.
Washington's SB 6284 (1st substitute, 2026 session) would have required developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems used to make, or be a substantial factor in, consequential decisions on employment, housing, insurance, health care, education, lending, legal services and similar matters to guard against algorithmic discrimination. Deployer duties would start July 1, 2027, consumer notice July 1, 2026, and only the Attorney General could enforce. It cleared Senate Environment, Energy & Technology on February 3, 2026, was heard in Ways & Means on February 6, and died at adjournment on March 12.
Prohibiting surveillance-based price discrimination and surge pricing for retail goods.
Washington's SB 6312, the Senate companion to HB 2481 (2026 session), would have barred non-small businesses selling grocery products from surveillance-based price discrimination (prices set from monitoring or automated analysis of a consumer's personal data) and from surge pricing based on real-time or predicted demand; 'algorithm' is defined to include AI. It would also have barred electronic shelf labels in stores of 15,000 square feet or more until January 1, 2030; violations would be Consumer Protection Act violations. It got no committee action on February 4, 2026 and died at adjournment.
Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence.
Washington's HB 1622 (engrossed substitute, 2025-26 biennium) would have required employers covered by the public collective bargaining laws in chapters 41.56 and 41.80 RCW to bargain over the decision to adopt artificial intelligence technology, or to modify its current uses, when that affects employees' wages or performance evaluations. It passed the House 58-38 on March 8, 2025 and stalled in Senate Ways & Means. In 2026 House Appropriations recommended a 2nd substitute on January 28 and the bill was referred to Rules 2 Review on February 3, 2026, where it died.
Regulating artificial intelligence training data.
Washington's HB 2503 (substitute, 2026 session) would have required developers of generative AI systems to post a high-level summary of their training datasets on their website on or before January 1, 2027 and before each later release or substantial modification made available to Washingtonians. It covered systems released on or after January 1, 2022, and treated violations as Consumer Protection Act violations. It was reported from House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans on January 28, 2026, referred to Appropriations January 30 and died at adjournment.
Providing consumer protections for artificial intelligence systems.
Washington's HB 2667 (2026 session), the House companion to SB 6284, would have required deployers of high-risk AI systems used for consequential decisions on education, employment, lending, health care, housing, insurance, legal services and similar matters to guard against algorithmic discrimination. Deployer duties would start July 1, 2027 and consumer notice July 1, 2026; only the Attorney General could enforce. It had a first reading on January 26, 2026, never got a hearing and died at adjournment on March 12.
Concerning the operation of autonomous motor vehicles.
Washington's SB 6243 (2026 session) would have added rules for autonomous motor vehicles (Level 3 when engaged, or Level 4 or 5) to chapter 46.92 RCW. Operators would need department authorization with a first responder action plan, driverless operation would need liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence (replacing the current $5 million), and local governments could not ban autonomous vehicles or add taxes or requirements. It would have taken effect October 1, 2026. It had a first reading on January 20, 2026, got no hearing and died at adjournment.
Regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use.
Washington's SB 6120 (2026 session), the Senate companion to HB 2157, would have required developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems, those intended to make or be a substantial factor in consequential decisions such as employment, lending, housing, insurance, health care and education, to use reasonable care against algorithmic discrimination. It included developer documentation, deployer risk programs and impact assessments, consumer notices, and private lawsuits for injunctions. It had a first reading on January 14, 2026 and died at adjournment.
Concerning vehicle and operator requirements for autonomous vehicles.
Washington's HB 1984 (2025-26 biennium) would have required registered autonomous vehicles to meet federal motor vehicle standards and barred operating one on a highway to carry passengers or goods unless a human safety operator is physically present to monitor and intervene. It also amended the self-certification testing pilot (RCW 46.92.010) so testing entities must give proof of insurance and report collisions and moving-violation citations, and could not test on public roads unless the new requirements are met. It had a House Transportation hearing on February 24, 2025, was reintroduced January 12, 2026 and died at adjournment.
Revised for 1st substitute: Allowing bargaining over matters related to certain uses of artificial intelligence.
Washington's SB 5422 (1st substitute, 2025-26 biennium) would have required employers covered by chapters 41.56 and 41.80 RCW to bargain over the decision to adopt artificial intelligence technology, or to modify its current uses, when that affects employees' wages or performance evaluations. It was reported from Senate Labor & Commerce on February 21, 2025, was heard in Ways & Means on February 25, took no further action, and was retained in present status on January 12, 2026. It died with the 2026 session; companion HB 1622 also died.
Increasing transparency in artificial intelligence.
Washington's HB 1168 (substitute, 2025-26 biennium) would have required developers of generative AI systems released on or after January 1, 2022 and available to Washingtonians to post a high-level summary of their training data on their website by January 1, 2026 and before each later release. The Attorney General would have enforced it with a civil penalty of $5,000 per day and a 45-day cure notice. Its 1st substitute was recommended by House Technology in January 2025, was reintroduced January 12, 2026 and died at adjournment.
Promoting the economic development of innovative uses of artificial intelligence.
Washington's HB 1942 (2025-26 biennium), an earlier Spark Act bill, would have directed the Department of Commerce, subject to appropriation, to promote economic development of innovative uses of AI. The department would solicit AI task force input at least quarterly through June 30, 2027, pursue federal funds and private donations for small businesses, and report beginning October 31, 2026. It also called for a Washington State Institute for Public Policy study. It had a first reading in February 2025, was retained in January 2026 and died at adjournment.
Prohibiting the knowing distribution of a forged digital likeness.
Washington's Chapter 51, Laws of 2025 (SHB 1205) adds deepfakes to criminal impersonation. A forged digital likeness is a visual representation or audio recording of a real, identifiable person that is digitally created or altered to be indistinguishable from a genuine one, misrepresents their appearance, speech or conduct, and is likely to deceive (RCW 9A.60.010). Knowingly distributing one as genuine with intent to defraud, harass, threaten or intimidate, or for another unlawful purpose, is criminal impersonation in the second degree (RCW 9A.60.045), a gross misdemeanor. Newsworthy, political, artistic, satire and parody uses are exempt.
Establishing an artificial intelligence task force.
Washington's Chapter 163, Laws of 2024 (E2SSB 5838) creates an artificial intelligence task force run by the Office of the Attorney General. A 19-member executive committee (four legislators and 15 members appointed by the Attorney General from government, industry, labor, advocacy and research) examines public and private AI development and use and recommends guidelines and possible legislation, covering topics such as high-risk uses, algorithmic discrimination, transparency, training data and civil liberties. Reports were due December 31, 2024, December 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026. The act took effect immediately (emergency clause) and the task force expires June 30, 2027.
Concerning fabricated intimate or sexually explicit images and depictions.
Washington's Chapter 88, Laws of 2024 (SHB 1999) covers digitally fabricated sexual images, including those made with artificial intelligence. It adds "fabricated depiction of an identifiable minor" to chapter 9.68A RCW, so the child sexual exploitation offenses reach images created or altered by digitization. It creates a new crime of disclosing a fabricated intimate image without consent (gross misdemeanor; class C felony for repeat offenses) and a civil cause of action under chapter 7.110 RCW with statutory damages up to $10,000, punitive damages, fees and injunctions. "Digitization" expressly includes creating or altering images with artificial intelligence.
Defining synthetic media in campaigns for elective office, and providing relief for candidates and campaigns.
Chapter 360, Laws of 2023 addresses election deepfakes. Synthetic media is an image, audio or video of a person's appearance, speech or conduct intentionally manipulated with generative adversarial network techniques or other digital technology to create a realistic but false depiction with a fundamentally different impression than the original. A candidate depicted in synthetic media in an electioneering communication can seek an injunction and sue the sponsor for damages. A set-format disclosure that the media "has been manipulated" is an affirmative defense. The sponsor, not the medium, is liable unless the medium removes the disclosure or alters the content. Now chapter 29B.35 RCW.
Implementing recommendations of the autonomous vehicle work group.
Washington's Chapter 193, Laws of 2021 (SSB 5460) implements recommendations of the state autonomous vehicle work group by amending the self-certification testing pilot program in RCW 46.92.010. It defines "autonomous" as a level four or five driving automation system under SAE J3016, and requires testers to give the Department of Licensing contact details, testing jurisdictions, vehicle identification and proof of insurance, file annual collision and violation reports, and notify law enforcement 14 to 60 days before testing. No autonomous vehicle may be tested on public roads until the information is filed. Section 1 takes effect October 1, 2022.
Concerning the use of facial recognition services.
Washington's Chapter 257, Laws of 2020 (ESSB 6280) governs state and local government use of facial recognition services (chapter 43.386 RCW). Before use, an agency must give notice to its legislative authority and publish an accountability report after public comment and community meetings. Decisions with legal or similarly significant effects require meaningful human review; services must be tested in operational conditions and vendors must allow independent accuracy and bias testing. Ongoing surveillance, real-time identification and persistent tracking need a warrant, exigent circumstances or a court order. The governor vetoed section 10 (a task force). Effective July 1, 2021.
Establishing minimum requirements for the testing of autonomous vehicles.
Washington's Chapter 182, Laws of 2020 (ESHB 2676) sets minimum rules for testing autonomous vehicles on public roads under the Department of Licensing self-certification pilot program. Testers must carry at least $5 million in umbrella liability insurance (RCW 46.30.050). From October 1, 2021 (RCW 46.92.010), they must give the department contact details, testing locations and vehicle IDs, report collisions and moving violations annually, and notify local police or the State Patrol 14 to 60 days before testing. The department publishes the information and reports to the Legislature.
Regulating personal delivery devices.
Washington's Chapter 214, Laws of 2019 (ESHB 1325) authorizes personal delivery devices: electrically powered devices under 120 pounds that carry property on sidewalks and crosswalks at up to 6 mph and are equipped with automated driving technology, supervised by a remote operator. Chapter 46.75 RCW sets operating requirements (an operator must control or monitor the device), a self-certification form, restrictions on where devices may operate, and traffic infractions for violations. Effective September 1, 2019.
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