WashingtonWashington law makes providing many nitrous oxide products a crime
Washington law makes several ways of providing nitrous oxide products a gross misdemeanor, while exempting specified medical, food, industrial, and automotive uses.
What it does
Providing covered nitrous oxide products can be a gross misdemeanor, including by selling, giving them away, or offering them. Exceptions cover specified medical care, food, manufacturing, industrial, gas-distribution, and automotive uses.
Argument forMaking many ways of providing nitrous oxide a crime could discourage sellers from offering it for uses outside the listed exceptions.
Argument againstCriminal penalties for providing or handling these products could reach people whose conduct falls outside the listed medical, food, industrial, and automotive exceptions.
More detail
The law makes it a gross misdemeanor to sell, provide, administer, distribute, give away, or offer to do those things with covered nitrous oxide products. Covered items are devices, canisters, tanks, or other containers exclusively holding nitrous oxide, flavored nitrous oxide, or a chemical compound mixed with nitrous oxide. The rule does not apply to medical, veterinary, or dental care provided by a licensed practitioner or under that practitioner's direction or supervision. It also excludes nitrous oxide in food products used as a propellant, manufacturer use in manufacturing or industrial work, and automotive use. Filling cylinders is excluded only when a lawful gas distributor supplies them solely for an exempt purpose and they are not for personal use.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 188, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#18). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Feb 28Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#8). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 28Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 28Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Feb 27Placed on second reading consent calendar.Minor
- Feb 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 23LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 13First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Feb 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#15). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 11Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 111st substitute bill substituted (CS 26).Major
- Feb 10Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 4Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 2CS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 26Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 16First reading, referred to Community Safety.Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety