WashingtonWashington task force studies court systems and recommends improvements
Washington’s court unification task force studies differences in local rules, technology, and funding, then reports possible ways to improve court services.
What it does
The task force reviews differences in local court rules, technology, and funding, then looks for ways courts could work more consistently and make services easier to use.
Lawmakers, local and court officials, legal groups, and people with court experience serve on the task force. Some members may receive compensation if financial hardship could limit their participation.
The task force sends an initial report in 2027 and a final report in 2028 with proposed solutions and a long-term plan for court resources.
Argument forComparing local rules, technology, and funding could help courts find ways to use resources well and make services easier to access.
Argument againstStudying court differences and writing plans could use members’ time without requiring courts to adopt the recommendations.
More detail
The court unification task force reviews Washington’s court system and identifies where a more unified approach could improve court services. The review considers access and outcomes for people who use courts, including victims, defendants, litigants, and lawyers. The review includes differences in local rules, technology, and funding.
The task force includes voting members appointed from the Legislature, local governments, courts, legal and public safety groups, and people with court experience. Voting members include representatives of legal aid, public defense, prosecutors, court clerks, and survivor advocates, as well as civil court litigants and a formerly incarcerated person. The governor and attorney general may each appoint one nonvoting member using existing resources. Members receive travel-cost reimbursement. Members whose participation may be limited by financial hardship may receive compensation under state law.
The task force holds meetings, sends reports to legislative committees and an interbranch advisory committee, and proposes solutions and a long-term plan. The task force reports to the interbranch advisory committee and relevant legislative committees. The final report must propose ways to use resources efficiently, including addressing conflicting court policies, practices, and procedures. The first meeting must occur by October 1, 2026, and the task force must hold at least two full-member meetings each year. It must submit reports by June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028, hold another full-member meeting after the final report and before June 30, 2029, and finish by December 31, 2029.
Where do you stand?
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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 199, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Major
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#7). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed House
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#27). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 6Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 23Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 18First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 36; absent, 0; excused, 6.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#8). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 162nd substitute bill substituted (APP 26).Major
- Feb 14Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 7Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 7Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 7APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 7Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Feb 26Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 20Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 18Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 18CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 18Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 12Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 10First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.Introduced
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