List of rulemaking activity

Driver license renewals for people over 70

  • Driver licensing
Emergency rule

Current rule(s)

Renewal of driver's license or ID card (Chapter 308-104-019 WAC)

We're removing the requirement for people over 70 to renew their driver license in person. This helps us continue providing online renewals to these individuals, which is currently authorized by Proclamation 20-15.

Current step

May 5, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

No public was hearing held. See the emergency rulemaking order for more information.

Moving and nonmoving violations

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Moving and nonmoving violations defined (WAC 308-104-160)

We're adding more offenses to our list of moving and nonmoving violations.

Current step

November 30, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held November 22, 2022

Suspended driver licenses and safe driving courses

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Drivers' licenses (Chapter 308-104 WAC)

We're adopting requirements about license suspensions due to multiple traffic offenses and safe driving courses. These changes follow a new law that lowers the number of traffic offenses that will lead to a license suspension and requires people who are suspended to complete a safe driving course.

Current step

November 30, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Commercial driver license (CDL) definitions

  • Driver licensing
Withdrawn

Current rule(s)

Definitions (WAC 308-100-005)

We're withdrawing rule changes to the definitions related to commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to make it easier to get a CDL.

Current step

August 2, 2023

Rule change withdrawn

Public hearing or comments

No public hearing was held.

CDL hearings

  • Driver licensing
Withdrawn

Current rule(s)

Hearing procedural rules (Chapter 308-101 WAC)

We're withdrawing new rules to clarify business practices, procedures, and guidelines about CDLs and hearing requests, requests for interpreters, defining good cause, and defining the requirements to request a hearing as a Habitual Traffic Offender.

Current step

August 16, 2023

New rule withdrawn

Public hearing or comments

No public hearing was held.

Financial responsibility hearings

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Administration of the Financial Responsibility Act – Procedures (Chapter 308-102 WAC)

These rule changes update and clarify the process of financial responsibility hearings. We're making the rules comply with the law, simplifying parts of the rule that are hard to read, and using more inclusive language.

Current step

March 13, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held January 25, 2023

Virtual driver training classes

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Driver training schools (Chapter 308-108 WAC)

We're allowing driver training schools to offer virtual classes after Washington's state of emergency ends.

Current step

October 31, 2022

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held October 25, 2022

Temporary license plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
Completed

Current rule(s)

Department temporary permit (WAC 308-56A-140); Delivery of vehicle on dealer temporary permit (WAC 308-56A-420); Obtaining dealer temporary permits (WAC 308-56A-425)

We're clarifying the requirements and procedures for issuing temporary license plates.

Current step

July 19, 2023

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held June 27, 2023
Virtual hearing

Veteran and military license plates

  • Vehicle and boat registration
In progress

Current rule(s)

Veterans remembrance and military service award license plate (WAC 308-96A-530)

We plan to add the Prevent Veteran Suicide license plate emblem to the list of other military license plate emblems. We also plan to explain the differences between the requirements to issue this new emblem and other military emblems.

Current step

August 23, 2022

Intent to change a rule

Public hearing or comments

See the preproposal statement of inquiry for information about submitting comments.

Maiden names on applications for driver licenses, ID cards, and permits

  • Driver licensing
Completed

Current rule(s)

Application for driver's license or identicard (WAC 308-104-014)

We're updating our policy and procedure for processing applications for driver licenses, ID cards, and instruction permits. We will no longer collect applicants' maiden names. 

Current step

December 28, 2020

Rule change adopted

Public hearing or comments

Public hearing held December 22, 2020

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