Washington 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 3 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 5937 — Clarifying the required color of certain lamps on vehicles.

Last action — Effective date 7/28/2019.

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2019. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Senate Bill 5937 changes the language related to the color of stop lamps on vehicles. Specifically, it clarifies that stop lamps can display either red or amber lights, whereas previously, the optional amber light was explicitly mentioned in one section and removed from another. This matters because it streamlines the regulations, making it easier for vehicle manufacturers and owners to understand acceptable colors for stop lamps. Overall, the change aims to maintain safety while simplifying the legal framework around vehicle lighting.

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Z-0173.1SENATE BILL 5937State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenators Lovelett, Nguyen, Fortunato, Das, Billig, and Hunt;
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5937State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenators Lovelett, Nguyen, Fortunato, Das, Billig, and Hunt;
RCW 46.37.100 and 2002 c 196 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:(1) Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.(2) Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.(3) All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except ((the stop lamp or)) other signal devices, which may be red((,))or amber, ((or yellow,)) and except that on any vehicle forty or more years old, or on any motorcycle regardless of age, the taillight may also contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter, and except that the light illuminating the license plate shall be white and the light emitted by a backup lamp shall be white or amber.Sec.
RCW 46.37.100 and 2002 c 196 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:(1) Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.(2) Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.(3) All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except the stop lamp or other signal device, which may be red, amber, or yellow, and except that on any vehicle forty or more years old, or on any motorcycle regardless of age, the taillight may also contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter, and except that the light illuminating the license plate shall be white and the light emitted by a backup lamp shall be white or amber.
However, for commercial motor vehicles defined in RCW 46.25.010, stop lamps must be red and other signal devices must be red or amber.Sec.
RCW 46.37.200 and 2006 c 306 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:(1) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this chapter shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red ((or amber)) light((, or any shade of color between red and amber,)) visible from a distance of not less than one hundred feet and on any vehicle manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, three hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of a service brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps.(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under RCW 46.37.070(2) shall be equipped with electric turn signals which shall indicate an intention to turn by flashing lights showing to the front and rear of a vehicle or on a combination of vehicles on the side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made.
RCW 46.37.200 and 2006 c 306 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:(1) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this chapter shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light, or any shade of color between red and amber, visible from a distance of not less than one hundred feet and on any vehicle manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, three hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of a service brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps.
However, for commercial motor vehicles defined in RCW 46.25.010, stop lamps must be red.(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under RCW 46.37.070(2) shall be equipped with electric turn signals which shall indicate an intention to turn by flashing lights showing to the front and rear of a vehicle or on a combination of vehicles on the side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made.
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Action History

  1. Effective date 7/28/2019.

  2. Chapter 321, 2019 Laws.

  3. Governor signed.

  4. Delivered to Governor.

  5. Speaker signed.

  6. President signed.

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  11. Committee recommendations adopted and the bill amended.

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

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  14. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 03:30 PM

  15. TR - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

  16. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 03:30 PM

  17. First reading, referred to Transportation.

  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  20. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

  21. Placed on second reading.

  22. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  24. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 01:30 PM

  25. TRAN - Majority; do pass.

  26. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 01:30 PM

  27. First reading, referred to Transportation.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 145 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (145)

145 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Final Passage as Amended by the House (#5)

Passed 48 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 27000
Republican 9000
Democrat 12001
Total 48001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Bailey — Yea
Becker — Yea
Billig — Yea
Brown — Yea
Carlyle — Yea
Darneille — Yea
Das — Yea
Ericksen — Yea
Frockt — Yea
Hawkins — Yea
Hobbs — Yea
Honeyford — Yea
Keiser — Yea
Kuderer — Yea
McCoy — Yea
Mullet — Yea
O'Ban — Yea
Padden — Yea
Palumbo — Yea
Randall — Yea
Rivers — Yea
Rolfes — Yea
Sheldon — Yea
Takko — Yea
Wilson, L. — Yea
Zeiger — Yea
Van De Wege — Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Not Voting
Joe Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Final Passage as Amended by the House (#20)

Passed 96 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 31002
Republican 22000
Democrat 43000
Total 96002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Appleton — Not Voting
Blake — Yea
Chambers — Yea
Chandler — Yea
Chopp — Yea
Cody — Yea
DeBolt — Yea
Dolan — Yea
Hoff — Yea
Hudgins — Yea
Irwin — Yea
Jenkin — Yea
Kirby — Yea
Klippert — Yea
Kraft — Yea
Kretz — Yea
Maycumber — Yea
McCaslin — Yea
Mead — Yea
Morris — Not Voting
Mosbrucker — Yea
Pellicciotti — Yea
Pettigrew — Yea
Sells — Yea
Shea — Yea
Smith — Yea
Sullivan — Yea
Sutherland — Yea
Tarleton — Yea
Vick — Yea
Wilcox — Yea
Young — Yea
Van Werven — Yea
Amy Walen Democrat Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Bill Ramos Democrat Yea
Chris Kilduff Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Yea
Dave Paul Democrat Yea
Debra Entenman Democrat Yea
Debra Lekanoff Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Lauren Davis Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Yea
Lisa Callan Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Mari Leavitt Democrat Yea
Melanie Morgan Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
My-Linh Thai Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shelley Kloba Democrat Yea
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Yea
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tana Senn Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Alex Ybarra Republican Yea
Andrew Barkis Republican Yea
Carolyn Eslick Republican Yea
Chris Corry Republican Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Drew Stokesbary Republican Yea
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Jenny Graham Republican Yea
Jeremie Dufault Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
Joe Schmick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Yea
Mary Dye Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Yea
Michelle Valdez Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Skyler Rude Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#38)

Passed 47 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 25002
Republican 9000
Democrat 13000
Total 47002
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Bailey — Yea
Becker — Yea
Billig — Yea
Brown — Yea
Carlyle — Yea
Darneille — Yea
Das — Yea
Ericksen — Yea
Hawkins — Yea
Hobbs — Not Voting
Honeyford — Yea
Keiser — Yea
Kuderer — Yea
McCoy — Yea
Mullet — Yea
O'Ban — Yea
Padden — Yea
Palumbo — Yea
Randall — Yea
Rivers — Yea
Rolfes — Yea
Sheldon — Yea
Takko — Yea
Wilson, L. — Not Voting
Frockt — Yea
Zeiger — Yea
Van De Wege — Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Joe Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

transportation
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5937?
SB 5937 is sponsored by Liz Lovelett (Democrat), Phil Fortunato (Republican), Das, Billig, Victoria Hunt (Democrat), and Joe Nguyen (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 5937?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 18, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 5937?
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