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SHB 2526

In Committee

House

Prostitution

Concerning prostitution.

  1. Introduced (completed)
  2. 2
    Committee (current stage)
  3. 3
    Floor Vote (not started)
  4. 4
    Opposite Chamber (not started)
  5. 5
    Governor (not started)
  6. 6
    Signed (not started)

This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 2, 2026
Last Action: February 4, 2026
Status: H Approps
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill reclassifies buying sex as commercial sexual exploitation, raises it from a misdemeanor to a class C felony, and significantly increases fines—up to $10,000 for repeat offenders—to deter demand and fund survivor support. It also mandates that most fine revenue be used for prevention programs and services for victims.

  • Replaces the term 'patronizing a prostitute' with 'commercial sexual exploitation' in state law to reflect a public health and trauma-informed approach.
  • Elevates the crime of commercial sexual exploitation from a misdemeanor to a class C felony.
  • Increases fines for buyers: $3,000 for first offense, $5,000 for one prior offense, and $10,000 for two or more prior offenses.
  • Requires courts to assess fees on offenders convicted or diverted for related offenses (e.g., soliciting, promoting, or trafficking), with escalating amounts based on prior offenses.
  • Mandates that at least 50% of collected fees fund prevention (e.g., 'john school') and survivor services (e.g., housing, counseling, job training).
  • Requires courts to consider an offender’s ability to pay before waiving or reducing fees, and allows monthly payment plans.

Who is affected

  • Buyers of commercial sex — Individuals who purchase sex (often called 'johns') will face higher criminal penalties and significantly increased fines, especially for repeat offenses.
  • Survivors and victims of commercial sexual exploitation — Survivors and victims of commercial sexual exploitation may receive increased access to services like housing, mental health counseling, and job training through fees collected from buyers.
  • Local governments (county and city officials) — Local governments (counties and cities) will collect and manage increased fee revenue, with requirements to spend at least half on prevention and survivor services.
  • Judicial and court staff — Courts will handle higher-value fines and may need to establish payment plans for offenders, with added administrative responsibilities.
Effective: July 25, 2026Fiscal impact: The bill creates new and increased fines for commercial sexual exploitation (up to $10,000 for repeat offenders), with revenue required to be used for local prevention and survivor services. At least 50% of collected fees must fund programs like 'john school,' housing, mental health counseling, and job training. A small portion (2%) must be reported quarterly to the Department of Commerce.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026, 8:04 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (5)

  • Reclassifying commercial sexual exploitation as a felony and increasing fines aims to reduce demand — the root driver of exploitation — thereby decreasing violence and trafficking, especially for vulnerable groups like youth, Indigenous people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1

  • Mandating ≥50% of fee revenue for survivor services (counseling, job training, housing) creates a dedicated, scalable funding stream for trauma-informed care — directly improving health outcomes for survivors who often lack access to such services.

    HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 3(3)(a)

  • Funding for 'john school' and educational programs targets buyer behavior change, potentially reducing recidivism and promoting accountability — especially when paired with counseling and life skills training.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3(1)(c)(i-iii)

  • Ability-to-pay review and payment plans reduce risk of unjust incarceration for nonpayment — though imperfect, this provision offers a procedural safeguard against punitive debt traps for low-income offenders.

    FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)

  • Quarterly reporting to the Department of Commerce improves transparency and accountability in how fee revenue is used, enabling oversight and potential program improvements over time.

    Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(3)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)

  • Elevating commercial sexual exploitation to a class C felony may increase incarceration rates and strain the criminal legal system, potentially diverting resources from trauma-informed care and prevention — especially since many buyers are low-income individuals who may not pose a public safety threat beyond the act itself.

    Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(4)

  • Fines up to $10,000 for repeat offenders may impose severe financial hardship on low-income individuals, potentially leading to wage garnishment, driver’s license suspension (via nonpayment), or jail time for inability to pay — despite ability-to-pay safeguards, enforcement discretion may still result in disproportionate burden on poor and marginalized buyers.

    FinancialLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(1)(c)(iii)

  • While 50% of fees must fund survivor services, local governments must absorb administrative costs for fee collection, payment plans, and reporting — potentially straining county budgets, especially in rural or under-resourced jurisdictions with limited court infrastructure.

    Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(3)(a)

  • Mandatory fee assessments—even with ability-to-pay review—risk criminalizing poverty, as courts may still impose payment plans that trap low-income offenders in cycles of debt and court supervision, undermining due process and equal protection.

    Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(2)

  • Although survivor services are prioritized, the bill does not guarantee new funding for housing or long-term support — only that 50% of *collected* fees go to such programs, meaning service availability depends on enforcement volume and judicial compliance, creating uncertainty for survivors needing stable housing.

    HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 3(3)(a)

Who Is Most Affected

  • Buyers of commercial sex (especially low-income, unhoused, or justice-involved)Negative Impact

    Low-income individuals who buy sex — often struggling with addiction, mental health, or homelessness — face steep fines and possible jail for nonpayment, increasing economic instability and criminal record barriers to employment/housing.

  • Survivors and victims of commercial sexual exploitationPositive Impact

    Survivors — particularly women of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and Indigenous people — gain access to critical services like housing and counseling, but outcomes depend on local implementation and funding consistency across counties.

  • Local governments (county and city officials)Mixed Impact

    Counties and cities gain new fee revenue but must absorb administrative burdens; rural jurisdictions may lack capacity to implement programs effectively, while urban areas may see improved survivor services if funds are well-managed.

  • Judicial and court staffMixed Impact

    Courts face increased caseloads and administrative tasks (e.g., payment plans, ability-to-pay determinations), but gain statutory clarity on fee structure and diversion options.

  • Survivor service providers and nonprofitsPositive Impact

    Nonprofit service providers (e.g., domestic violence shelters, job training orgs) stand to gain stable, dedicated funding — but must compete for grants and may face increased demand without guaranteed long-term sustainability.