SHB 1080
In CommitteeHouse
Lodging fee disclosure
Concerning fee disclosure for lodging accommodations.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires hotels and short-term rental providers to include all mandatory fees (except government taxes) in the initial price shown to customers before booking, ensuring transparent pricing. It also imposes civil penalties for violations and takes effect in July 2025.
- Hotels must include all mandatory fees (except government taxes) in the advertised or displayed room rate before a guest reserves a stay.
- Short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) must also include all mandatory fees (except government taxes) in the advertised or displayed rate before a guest reserves a stay.
- All government-imposed taxes and fees must be included in the total price shown before booking for both hotels and short-term rentals.
- Violations can result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation, and enforcement may be pursued by city attorneys, county prosecutors, or the state Attorney General.
- The law applies to advertising or offers made in Washington or from Washington, even if the guest is in another state.
Who is affected
- Hotel operators — Must now include all government-imposed taxes and fees in the upfront price shown to guests before they book, and may face civil penalties for noncompliance.
- Short-term rental hosts and platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) — Must now include all government-imposed taxes and fees in the upfront price shown to guests before they book, and may face civil penalties for noncompliance.
- Travelers and consumers booking hotels or short-term rentals in Washington — Will see clearer, more transparent pricing when booking lodging, as all mandatory fees (except taxes) must be included in the initial rate shown.
- City attorneys, county prosecuting attorneys, and the Washington Attorney General — Will enforce the law through civil actions and may pursue penalties against violators.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (3)
Consumers will benefit from transparent pricing, reducing unexpected costs at checkout and enabling more accurate comparisons between lodging options—particularly helping low- and middle-income travelers who are most sensitive to hidden fees.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1); Sec. 2(1)Requiring government-imposed taxes and fees to be included in the total price before booking prevents last-minute price shocks and aligns Washington with emerging national transparency norms (e.g., FTC guidance, some state laws), reducing consumer frustration and distrust.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2); Sec. 2(2)Civil enforcement by city attorneys, county prosecutors, and the Attorney General creates accountability and deters deceptive pricing practices, supporting fair marketplace conduct and consumer confidence in travel-related services.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(b); Sec. 2(4)(b)
Potential Concerns (4)
Hotels and short-term rental providers face increased compliance costs and legal risk from civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, which may lead to reduced operations, especially among small independent operators or part-time hosts who lack legal resources to navigate ambiguous fee classifications.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(4)(a); Sec. 2(4)(a)The requirement to include *all mandatory fees* (except government taxes) in the initial price may create operational ambiguity: fees like cleaning charges, resort fees, or service fees may be classified differently across properties, leading to inconsistent application and potential disputes over what constitutes a “mandatory” fee, increasing administrative burden.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(1); Sec. 2(1)Enforcement responsibility falls to local prosecutors and city attorneys, which may strain limited municipal resources—especially in smaller jurisdictions—diverting staff time from other consumer protection or public safety priorities.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a); Sec. 2(4)(a)The extraterritorial reach—applying to advertising “from this state before the public in any state”—may expose out-of-state platforms (e.g., Vrbo, Booking.com) to Washington enforcement without clear jurisdictional safeguards, potentially chilling legitimate national or international marketing practices.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(3); Sec. 2(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income travelers benefit most: they often avoid booking due to fear of hidden fees and are disproportionately affected by price surprises; this bill reduces that uncertainty and improves budgeting ability.
Independent hotel owners and small short-term rental hosts face higher compliance costs and legal exposure; while large chains may absorb costs easily, smaller operators may cut back on listings or raise base rates to offset risk, potentially reducing supply.
Large hotel chains and national short-term rental platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) are well-positioned to absorb compliance costs and may even gain competitive advantage by standardizing pricing—potentially consolidating market share at the expense of smaller players.
Municipal governments gain enforcement authority but may face added costs; however, potential revenue from penalties (up to $10,000/violation) could offset some expenses, especially in high-tourism areas.
State and local tourism promotion agencies may see net positive effects if increased transparency improves visitor satisfaction and repeat visitation, though this is indirect and not guaranteed.