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Evergreen Ledger

E2SSB 5098

In Committee

Senate

Weapons in certain areas

Restricting the possession of weapons on the premises of state or local public buildings, parks or playground facilities where children are likely to be present, and county fairs and county fair facilities.

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 26, 2025
Last Action: March 12, 2026
Status: S Rules 3
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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 bans carrying weapons in specific public places—including courthouses, libraries, zoos, transit stations, parks where children are likely to be present, public buildings, and county fair facilities—while allowing secure storage options for courthouse visitors and exemptions for certain groups. It also adds new limits on open carry near permitted demonstrations and gives local governments more authority to regulate firearm sales and carry in public venues.

  • Prohibits knowingly possessing or controlling weapons in specific locations including courthouses, libraries, zoos/aquariums, transit stations, parks where children are likely to be present, public buildings, and county fair facilities during public hours.
  • Requires local governments to provide secure weapon storage (e.g., locked boxes or staffed drop-off) for people entering restricted court areas, and makes them liable for damage or loss of stored weapons.
  • Expands restrictions on open carry of firearms within 250 feet of a permitted demonstration (e.g., protest, rally), unless on private property or by law enforcement/military personnel.
  • Allows cities and counties to restrict where firearms can be sold (e.g., 500 feet from schools), and to ban open carry in municipal stadiums or convention centers (with exemptions for licensed carriers and firearm demonstrations).
  • Exempts certain groups—including law enforcement, correctional staff, zoo employees (for facility-owned weapons), honor guards, and licensed concealed pistol carriers—from the weapon bans in specific locations.

Who is affected

  • General public seeking to carry weapons — Members of the public who wish to carry weapons (e.g., firearms) into locations like courthouses, libraries, parks with children, zoos, transit stations, or county fairs must now comply with new restrictions—either leaving weapons in secure storage or not bringing them in at all.
  • Courthouse visitors — Courthouse visitors who need to enter restricted court areas must now use secure lockboxes or staff to store weapons during their visit, and local governments may be liable if weapons are damaged or lost.
  • Public employees and facility staff — Employees and officials at public buildings, parks, zoos, libraries, transit stations, and county fairs may be required to enforce or facilitate weapon restrictions, and some may need to obtain permission to carry weapons for official reasons.
  • Gun show operators and attendees — Gun owners who attend gun shows on county fairgrounds are exempt from the ban, but others bringing weapons to fairs during public hours are not.
Effective: July 28, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill may increase local government costs for installing and maintaining secure weapon storage lockboxes or staffing weapon drop-off locations in courthouses and other public buildings. It also creates potential liability exposure for local governments if weapons are lost or damaged while in storage.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 8:30 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (5)

  • Reduces likelihood of accidental discharges, confrontations, or weapon theft in high-traffic public spaces like courthouses, libraries, zoos, and parks—especially where children are present—by requiring secure storage or prohibiting carry outright, thereby lowering immediate risk to bystanders.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(b), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k)

  • Limits the presence of openly carried firearms near demonstrations, reducing potential for escalation, intimidation, or weapon-based threats during politically charged gatherings—protecting both protesters and counter-protesters from perceived or actual danger.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(2)(a), (2)(b)

  • Enhances security in courthouses by requiring secure weapon storage for visitors, which may reduce the risk of weapons entering sensitive judicial environments—supporting judicial integrity and reducing potential for courtroom violence or intimidation.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(b)

  • Allows local governments to restrict firearm sales within 500 feet of schools, which may reduce accessibility of firearms to minors or high-risk individuals near educational institutions—though evidence on actual impact on school violence is mixed.

    EducationPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(4)(b)

  • Prohibits weapons at county fairs during public hours while exempting gun shows—this targeted restriction may reduce impulsive or accidental firearm discharges in crowded, uncontrolled fair settings while preserving Second Amendment access in controlled venues.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(k), exemption for gun shows
Potential Concerns (5)

  • Increases risk of weapon-related incidents in sensitive public spaces (e.g., courthouses, libraries, parks with children) by removing the ability of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defense in those locations, while maintaining exemptions for armed personnel and licensed CCP holders—effectively disarming only the general public without eliminating threat vectors from exempt groups.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(b), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k)

  • Imposes new financial and operational burdens on local governments to install and maintain secure weapon storage (e.g., lockboxes or staffed drop-offs) in courthouses and other public buildings, with liability exposure for loss or damage—costs that may fall disproportionately on cash-strapped counties and municipalities without corresponding state funding.

    Local GovernmentPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(b) & fiscal impact note

  • Creates a 250-foot buffer zone around permitted demonstrations where open carry is prohibited, but only if law enforcement directs the person to leave—this may reduce perceived safety at protests for some attendees, while potentially increasing risk for others who feel vulnerable without defensive capability near volatile gatherings.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(2)(a), (2)(b)

  • Restricts constitutional right to bear arms in multiple public settings without requiring proof that such restrictions reduce crime or improve safety—effectively treats law-abiding citizens differently from exempt groups (e.g., law enforcement, correctional staff, licensed CCP holders), raising equal protection concerns.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(b), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k)

  • May indirectly increase housing pressure in jurisdictions with strict local firearm restrictions, as some residents may relocate to areas with fewer carry limitations—particularly affecting working-class and middle-income households seeking affordable housing.

    HousingPeopleRef: RCW 9.41.300(1)(b), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k)

Who Is Most Affected

General public seeking to carry weaponsNegative Impact

General public seeking to carry weapons face new restrictions on where they can bring firearms; those who rely on self-defense (e.g., rural residents, commuters, or people in high-crime neighborhoods) may feel less safe, especially if they cannot easily store weapons at courthouses or transit stations.

Courthouse visitorsMixed Impact

Courthouse visitors must now use secure storage or staffed drop-offs, which may be inconvenient or raise privacy concerns; local governments face liability if weapons are damaged or lost—potentially increasing legal costs and deterring some from using public facilities.

Public employees and facility staffMixed Impact

Public employees (e.g., library staff, park workers, transit operators) may be required to enforce or facilitate weapon restrictions, but are not uniformly exempt—some may face safety concerns if they cannot carry for personal protection during shifts.

Gun show operators and attendeesMixed Impact

Gun show operators benefit from the exemption at county fairs, but other firearm retailers may face new location restrictions near schools—potentially reducing foot traffic or requiring relocation, especially for small businesses in dense urban areas.

Local governmentsNegative Impact

Local governments must bear costs of installing and maintaining secure storage (e.g., lockboxes, staffing), and may face liability claims—this could strain budgets in smaller counties, though state funding or grants could offset some costs.