HB 2198
In CommitteeHouse
Permitting and licensing
Improving regulatory efficiency by integrating executive order 25-03, concerning permitting and licensing processes, into chapter 43.42A RCW.
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 makes state credentialing processes more transparent and efficient by requiring agencies to track and report processing times, set and publish decision deadlines, and provide applicants with clearer information about requirements and timelines. It also establishes a central online catalog of all state-issued credentials and allows for fee refunds if agencies miss their own deadlines.
- Requires state agencies to track and report how long it takes to process credential applications—including time to determine an application is complete and time to issue a final decision—and to report this data annually.
- Mandates that each agency establish and publicly post deadlines for issuing final decisions on credentials, with full implementation required by January 1, 2030.
- Requires agencies to refund application fees if they fail to meet their published decision deadline (unless prohibited by law or if no fee was charged).
- Creates a statewide online credential catalog and central repository maintained by the Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance, with standardized information on fees, requirements, timelines, and assistance tools.
- Requires agencies to provide applicants with clear information about the credential process—including examples, checklists, and estimated timelines—via their websites linking to the central repository.
Who is affected
- Applicants for state credentials — Businesses and individuals applying for state-issued permits, licenses, or certifications will benefit from clearer timelines, standardized application information, and potential fee refunds if decisions are delayed beyond published deadlines.
- State agencies issuing credentials — State agencies that issue licenses, permits, or certifications must track application and decision times, report performance data annually, and establish and meet processing deadlines—or refund fees if deadlines are missed.
- Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance — The Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance will lead implementation, maintain the statewide credential catalog, set reporting standards, and produce annual progress reports.
- Legislature and Governor’s Office — Legislative committees and the governor receive annual performance reports to assess progress and identify areas needing improvement in credential processing.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Mandates fee refunds when agencies miss their own published deadlines — this creates a direct financial incentive for agencies to improve processing speed and provides tangible relief to applicants who pay for delayed services.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 6(3)Requires agencies to provide standardized, user-friendly application tools (checklists, examples, assistance info) and link to a central catalog — this reduces information asymmetry, lowers application errors, and helps small businesses and individuals navigate complex regulatory processes.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1), Sec. 4(2)(q–r)Requires agencies to publish decision deadlines and track processing times — this improves planning certainty for applicants (e.g., contractors, small businesses, healthcare providers), enabling better hiring, investment, and scheduling decisions.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(k), Sec. 6(1)Standardized credential catalog and reporting improve oversight of time-sensitive credentials (e.g., food handler permits, construction licenses), helping agencies and legislators identify systemic delays that could compromise public safety.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(2), Sec. 6(2)Requires disclosure of appeal rights and post-approval requirements (e.g., continuing education, inspections) — this helps applicants (especially sole proprietors and small clinics) avoid credential lapses and maintain compliance, supporting continuity of care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(n), Sec. 4(2)(o)
Potential Concerns (5)
Fee refunds for missed deadlines only apply when an application fee is charged and the agency misses its deadline — many credential types (e.g., occupational licenses, environmental permits) carry high fees, but refunds are capped at the application fee amount and do not compensate for lost time, business delays, or incidental costs, limiting real-world financial relief.
FinancialRef: Sec. 6(3)Agencies must meet staggered deadlines for establishing processing timelines, with full implementation not required until 2030 — a 4-year rollout delays meaningful accountability and may allow continued delays in credential processing for years, especially for under-resourced agencies.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 6(1)(a–d)The bill does not create a private right of action or enforceable legal remedy for applicants denied credentials due to agency delays — fee refunds are the only penalty, and only if a fee was charged, weakening accountability for individuals whose livelihoods depend on timely licensing (e.g., healthcare workers, contractors).
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 6(3)While improved transparency may help applicants, the bill does not require agencies to disclose delays in safety-critical credentials (e.g., food safety inspections, hazardous materials permits), potentially masking systemic issues that affect public health and safety.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 4(2)(l)Fee refunds are explicitly excluded for certain programs (e.g., Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, reimbursement-based programs), meaning applicants in those areas gain no financial recourse despite potential delays — creating uneven protection across credential types.
FinancialRef: Sec. 6(3) (exclusions)
Who Is Most Affected
Individuals applying for occupational or professional licenses (e.g., nurses, contractors, cosmetologists) benefit significantly — clearer timelines and fee refunds reduce financial and career uncertainty, especially for those living paycheck-to-p paycheck or dependent on licensure for employment.
Small businesses (e.g., contractors, restaurants, childcare providers) benefit from predictable timelines and standardized application tools, reducing operational uncertainty and administrative burden — but may still face costs if delays persist despite refunds.
State agencies face new reporting and refund obligations, which may strain resources — but the bill allows use of existing resources and provides technical support, and agencies with already efficient processes may see minimal net cost.
The Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance gains new responsibilities (catalog maintenance, reporting standards, exception approvals), increasing its workload but also its influence over regulatory efficiency — this is a structural expansion with no clear fiscal benefit or burden.
Low-income applicants and those in rural areas may benefit from improved access to standardized information, but may still struggle with digital literacy or internet access to use the online catalog — the bill does not mandate offline support or language assistance.