Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 2274 — Modifying the Washington commercial electronic mail act.

Last action — Effective date 6/11/2026.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Bob Ferguson (Democratic) on March 23, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 92% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

60 added · 35 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill HB 2274 clarify the criteria for identifying misleading subject lines in commercial emails. The new text specifies that a subject line must be likely to mislead a recipient about a fact important to the transaction, rather than simply containing false or misleading information. This change is significant because it strengthens consumer protections by focusing on the impact of misleading subject lines on recipients, helping to prevent deceptive email practices. Additionally, the definition of what constitutes knowledge about the recipient's location was streamlined, making it clearer for businesses to comply with the law.

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Latest
ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2274 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Consumer Protection & Business (originally sponsored by Representatives Springer, McClintock, and Bernbaum) READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
H-2721.1 HOUSE BILL 2274 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Springer, McClintock, and Bernbaum Prefiled 01/06/26.
Read first time 01/12/26.
Referred to Committee on Consumer Protection & Business.
amending RCW 19.190.020 and 19.190.040;
amending RCW 19.190.020, 19.190.040, and 19.190.100;
and creating a new section.
creating a new section;
and repealing RCW 19.190.030.
(1) No person may initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission, or assist the transmission, of a commercial electronic mail message from a computer located in Washington or to an electronic mail address that the sender knows, or has reason to know, is held by a Washington resident that:
(1) No person may initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission, or assist the transmission, of a commercial electronic mail message from a computer located in Washington or to an electronic mail address that the sender knows, or has ((reason)) a reliable basis to know, is held by a Washington resident that:
or (b) ((Contains)) Uses a subject line which, based on the person's actual knowledge or knowledge fairly implied on the basis of objective circumstances, contains false or misleading information in the subject line.
or (b) Contains ((false or misleading information in the subject line)) a subject line which, based on the person's actual knowledge, or knowledge fairly implied on the basis of objective circumstances, would be likely to mislead a recipient, acting reasonably under the circumstances, about a fact material to the relevant transaction, and p.
(2) For purposes of this section, a person knows that the intended recipient of a commercial electronic mail message is a p.
1 HB 2274 which subject line was in fact material to the recipient in completing the transaction.
1 ESHB 2274 Washington resident if that information is available, upon request, from the registrant of the internet domain name contained in the recipient's electronic mail address.
(2) For purposes of this section, a person knows that the intended recipient of a commercial electronic mail message is a Washington resident if that information is available, upon request, from the registrant of the internet domain name contained in the recipient's electronic mail address.
(1) Damages to the recipient of a commercial electronic mail message or a commercial electronic text message sent in violation of this chapter are ((five hundred dollars)) $100, or actual damages, whichever is greater.
(1) Damages to ((the recipient of)) a person who received, reviewed, and detrimentally relied upon a commercial electronic mail message or a commercial electronic text message sent in violation of this chapter are ((five hundred dollars)) $500, or actual damages, whichever is greater.
NEW SECTION.
(3) Nothing within this section shall prevent the recipient of a commercial electronic mail message from bringing claims under any other applicable law.
RCW 19.190.100 and 2005 c 378 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds that the practices covered by this chapter are matters vitally affecting the public interest for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.
((A)) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a violation of this chapter is not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business, and is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce and an unfair method of competition for the purpose of applying the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW.
(2) This section does not apply to a violation of RCW 19.190.020.
NEW SECTION.
Sec.
4.
RCW 19.190.030 (Unpermitted or misleading electronic mail — Violation of consumer protection act) and 1999 c 289 s 3 & 1998 c 149 s 4 are each repealed.
p.
2 HB 2274 NEW SECTION.
Sec.
5.
2 ESHB 2274
3 HB 2274
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Action History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

  2. Chapter 135, 2026 Laws.

  3. Governor signed.

  4. Delivered to Governor.

  5. President signed.

  6. Speaker signed.

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 43; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

  12. BTE - Majority; do pass.

  13. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development at 8:00 AM.

  14. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development at 8:00 AM.

  15. First reading, referred to Business, Trade & Economic Development.

  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 86; nays, 11; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  18. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

  19. 1st substitute bill substituted (CPB 26).

  20. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  21. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  22. Minority; do not pass.

  23. CPB - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  24. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

  25. Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

  26. Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

  27. First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Business.

  28. Prefiled for introduction.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 148 not signed on · 16 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (148)

148 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 148 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10)

Passed 43 Yea · 5 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 26400
Republican 17101
Total 43501
% of votes cast 88%10%0%2%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Nay
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Claudia Kauffman Democrat Yea
Deborah Krishnadasan Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Nay
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Emily Alvarado Democrat Nay
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Jessica Bateman Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Nay
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
T'wina Nobles Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Yasmin Trudeau Democrat Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jeff Wilson Republican Not Voting
Jim McCune Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Nay
Leonard Christian Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Yea
Nikki Torres Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Perry Dozier Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Ron Muzzall Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#17)

Passed 86 Yea · 11 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 36200
Democrat 50901
Total 861101
% of votes cast 88%11%0%1%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Adam Bernbaum Democrat Yea
Adison Richards Democrat Yea
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Alex Ramel Democrat Yea
Alicia Rule Democrat Yea
Amy Walen Democrat Yea
April Berg Democrat Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Brandy Donaghy Democrat Yea
Brianna Thomas Democrat Yea
Chipalo Street Democrat Yea
Chris Stearns Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Nay
Clyde Shavers Democrat Yea
Dan Bronoske Democrat Yea
Darya Farivar Democrat Yea
Dave Paul Democrat Yea
David Hackney Democrat Yea
Davina Duerr Democrat Yea
Debra Entenman Democrat Yea
Debra Lekanoff Democrat Yea
Edwin Obras Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Greg Nance Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Jamila Taylor Democrat Yea
Janice Zahn Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
Joe Timmons Democrat Yea
Julia Reed Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Lauren Davis Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Nay
Lisa Callan Democrat Yea
Lisa Parshley Democrat Yea
Liz Berry Democrat Yea
Mari Leavitt Democrat Yea
Mary Fosse Democrat Nay
Melanie Morgan Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Nay
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
My-Linh Thai Democrat Yea
Natasha Hill Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Nay
Osman Salahuddin Democrat Yea
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharlett Mena Democrat Nay
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shaun Scott Democrat Nay
Shelley Kloba Democrat Nay
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Not Voting
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tarra Simmons Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Nay
Zach Hall Democrat Yea
Alex Ybarra Republican Yea
Andrew Barkis Republican Yea
Andrew Engell Republican Yea
April Connors Republican Yea
Brian Burnett Republican Yea
Carolyn Eslick Republican Yea
Chris Corry Republican Yea
Cyndy Jacobsen Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Yea
David Stuebe Republican Yea
Deb Manjarrez Republican Yea
Drew Stokesbary Republican Yea
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Gloria Mendoza Republican Yea
Hunter Abell Republican Yea
Jenny Graham Republican Yea
Jeremie Dufault Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Nay
Joe Schmick Republican Yea
Joel McEntire Republican Nay
John Ley Republican Yea
Joshua Penner Republican Yea
Kevin Waters Republican Yea
Mark Klicker Republican Yea
Mary Dye Republican Yea
Matt Marshall Republican Yea
Michael Keaton Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Yea
Peter Abbarno Republican Yea
Rob Chase Republican Yea
Sam Low Republican Yea
Skyler Rude Republican Yea
Stephanie Barnard Republican Yea
Stephanie McClintock Republican Yea
Suzanne Schmidt Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Yea
Travis Couture Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 2274?
HB 2274 is sponsored by Adam Bernbaum (Democrat), Stephanie McClintock (Republican), and Larry Springer (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 2274?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2274?
Track HB 2274 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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