HB 1504
In CommitteeHouse
Firearm financial resp.
Enhancing public safety by requiring financial responsibility to purchase or possess a firearm or operate a firearm range.
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 Washington residents to show proof of financial responsibility—such as insurance, a bond, self-insurance, or a $25,000 deposit—before buying or possessing a firearm. It also requires commercial firearm ranges to carry $1 million in liability coverage and creates a state-managed deposit system to help victims recover damages from accidental firearm discharges.
- Requires individuals to show proof of financial responsibility (minimum $25,000 coverage per incident) before purchasing or possessing a firearm—via insurance, bond, self-insurance (for owners of 25+ firearms), or a $25,000 cash/securities deposit held by the Department of Licensing.
- Mandates that each firearm must have its own proof of financial responsibility (e.g., separate policy or deposit per gun).
- Requires firearm range operators to carry general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per incident.
- Creates a process for victims to file claims against cash or securities deposits held by the Department of Licensing if they win a judgment for injuries or damages caused by accidental firearm discharge.
- Makes failure to show proof of financial responsibility when requested by a dealer or law enforcement officer a class 1 civil infraction, with a $25 court fee if dismissed after proof is provided.
- Establishes a 'firearm financial responsibility account' in the state treasury to hold deposits and pay claims, with interest earned funding the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention.
Who is affected
- Firearm purchasers and owners — Individuals who want to buy or possess a firearm must obtain proof of financial responsibility (insurance, bond, self-insurance, or deposit) before purchase or possession.
- Firearm dealers — Firearm dealers must verify proof of financial responsibility and safety training before completing firearm sales.
- Firearm range operators — Operators of commercial firearm ranges must carry liability insurance of at least $1 million per incident.
- Victims of accidental firearm discharge — People who have suffered injury, death, or property damage due to someone else’s accidental firearm discharge may claim against deposits held by the state.
- Large firearm collectors or businesses — People who own more than 25 firearms may apply for self-insurance status through the Department of Licensing.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Creates a direct mechanism for victims of accidental firearm discharges to recover damages from a state-held deposit, improving access to compensation without needing to locate and sue an individual who may be insolvent or uncooperative. This is especially beneficial to low-income victims who lack resources to pursue civil litigation against unknown or indigent defendants.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(3)(a)-(c); Sec. 6(1)Requires proof of financial responsibility before firearm purchase or possession, which may incentivize safer handling and discourage impulsive or reckless ownership—since individuals must budget for liability coverage, they may be more likely to complete safety training, store firearms responsibly, or reconsider ownership if they cannot afford insurance. This aligns with evidence that liability risk awareness reduces negligent discharges.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a); Sec. 1(2)(a)(iii)Interest earned on deposits funds the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, creating a dedicated, growing revenue stream for violence prevention programs—including community-based intervention, mental health support, and safe storage education—that directly benefit communities most affected by gun violence.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(6)(b)Allows low-risk individuals to avoid insurance premiums by using a $25,000 cash deposit—potentially cheaper than annual insurance for those with excellent driving/claims history—though only if they have liquidity. The deposit is refundable and earns interest, offering a state-backed alternative to private insurance for those who can meet the upfront cost.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a); Sec. 1(7)(d)Provides a streamlined, non-punitive path to dismiss civil infractions for missing proof if compliance is demonstrated post-stop—reducing unnecessary court involvement and minimizing penalties for honest oversight, especially for those who obtain coverage shortly before purchase or possession.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(d); Sec. 1(5)(e)-(g)
Potential Concerns (5)
Requires separate proof of financial responsibility per firearm—either insurance, bond, or $25,000 deposit—creating a per-gun cost barrier that disproportionately affects moderate-income owners of multiple firearms (e.g., collectors, hunters, or those with multiple self-defense weapons), as most policies and deposits are priced per firearm and cannot be bundled. This effectively raises the marginal cost of firearm ownership for households with more than one gun, even if their total risk exposure does not scale linearly with number of guns.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 1(2)(b); Sec. 4(2)(a)Self-insurance option (for owners of 25+ firearms) requires Department of Licensing discretion and proof of ability to pay judgments—effectively excluding most everyday firearm owners and favoring large collectors or businesses with legal/financial resources to navigate the application and maintain sufficient liquidity to cover potential judgments. The $25,000 deposit per firearm also becomes a de facto high-interest loan to the state for those who cannot afford insurance, as funds are locked and earn only minimal interest (which funds a state office, not the depositor).
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 1(3)(a)-(c); Sec. 4(1)(b)Mandates $1 million in liability coverage for commercial firearm ranges, which may force small, independent range operators—especially those in rural or economically distressed areas—to close or cease operations due to unaffordable premiums, reducing access to training and recreational shooting for everyday residents. Insurance for ranges is already high-cost due to perceived risk; a $1M floor may exceed what actuarially reasonable premiums would be for low-volume or low-risk facilities.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 6(1); Sec. 6(2)Creates a civil infraction (not a criminal offense) for failing to show proof of financial responsibility, but the enforcement mechanism—requiring officers to request proof during routine stops or sales—may increase discretionary police encounters, especially in communities already subject to higher rates of traffic and firearm-related stops, without demonstrably reducing firearm violence or accidents. The $25 court fee upon dismissal is minimal but may still impose administrative burden on low-income individuals.
Public SafetyLean industryRef: Sec. 1(5)(c); Sec. 1(5)(d)The deposit system allows claimants to seize deposited funds without requiring the depositor to be convicted of a crime—only a civil judgment—potentially infringing on due process rights for individuals who may be judgment-proof or contest liability in good faith. The depositor must wait 30 days after notice before contesting in court, during which time funds are unavailable, creating financial hardship even for non-negligent parties.
Rights & LibertiesLean industryRef: Sec. 1(7)(a)-(h); Sec. 4(3)(a)-(c)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and moderate-income firearm owners—especially those with 1–2 guns—will face new out-of-pocket costs ($250–$1,000+ annually for insurance or $25,000 locked capital for deposit), which may reduce firearm ownership or lead to noncompliance and civil infractions. Those without insurance or liquidity are disproportionately affected.
Large firearm collectors (25+ guns) may benefit from self-insurance, but only if they have sufficient net worth to satisfy potential judgments—effectively excluding most middle-class collectors. The $25,000-per-firearm deposit requirement may still apply if self-insurance is denied or revoked.
Commercial range operators—especially small, independent, or rural ranges—may face closure due to $1M liability coverage costs, reducing access to training and recreation. Larger chains may absorb costs or pass them to customers, consolidating the market.
Victims of accidental firearm discharge—particularly low-income individuals—gain a streamlined path to compensation via state-held deposits, avoiding costly litigation and uncollectible judgments. This improves access to justice and financial recovery.
The state gains a new revenue stream (interest on deposits) to fund violence prevention, while law enforcement gains a new compliance check—but also faces added administrative burden verifying proof at point of sale or during stops.