WashingtonBrokers must also market homes publicly when targeting select groups
Washington brokers must market homes publicly while promoting them to select groups, except when limiting marketing is reasonably necessary to protect an owner's or occupant's health or safety.
What it does
Brokers promoting homes for sale or rent to select groups must also market them publicly and to all other brokers. An exception allows limits reasonably needed to protect an owner's or occupant's health or safety.
Breaking the residential marketing rule counts as a violation of Washington's real estate licensing law.
Argument forPublic marketing could help buyers and renters learn about homes that brokers otherwise promote only within a select group.
Argument againstRequired public marketing could limit owners' ability to advertise quietly when their reasons do not meet the health or safety exception.
More detail
Brokers must market homes publicly while promoting them to select groups. The required customer pamphlet explains this rule. The rule covers residential sales and rentals marketed to select buyers, brokers, or both. Marketing must also reach the general public and all other brokers. An exception applies when limiting marketing is reasonably necessary to protect the owner's or occupant's health or safety. Public marketing does not require owners to let people onto the property or into the home. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
A broker who breaks the marketing rule violates Washington's real estate licensing law. This applies to brokers who violate the residential marketing rule. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 16Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 16Chapter 57, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 16Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 4President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 92; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#25). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 2Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 25Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 25CPB - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 25Executive action taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 24Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 12First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Business.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#9). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 101st substitute bill substituted (HSG 26).Major
- Feb 4Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 30HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 30Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 23Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Housing.Introduced
HousingConsumer Protection