wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1504 > Original Bill
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No person in this state may purchase or possess a firearm unless that person is:
Insured under a firearm liability policy or covered by a firearm liability bond meeting the requirements of subsection (2) of this section;
Self-insured as provided in subsection (3) of this section; or
Covered by a certificate of deposit meeting the requirements of subsection (4) of this section.
Compliance with this requirement constitutes financial responsibility for the purpose of this section. Proof of financial responsibility to purchase or possess a firearm must be provided on the request of a dealer or law enforcement officer in the format specified under subsection (5) of this section.
Firearm Liability Policy and Bond Requirements.
A firearm liability policy or bond under this section must: (i) Be issued by an insurance company or surety company authorized to do business in this state; (ii) provide at least $25,000 of coverage per incident arising from accidental or unintentional discharge of the covered firearm causing injury, death, or property damage; and (iii) identify the specific firearm covered by the policy or bond.
Firearm liability policies and bonds must be obtained on a per-firearm basis, with a separate policy or bond required for each distinct firearm.
Self-Insurance Requirements.
Any person possessing more than 25 firearms may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance issued by the department of licensing as provided in (b) of this subsection.
The department of licensing may, in its discretion, upon the application of such a person, issue a certificate of self-insurance when it is satisfied that such person is possessed and will continue to be possessed of the ability to pay a judgment obtained against such person arising from accidental or unintentional discharge of their firearms causing injury, death, or property damage.
Upon not less than five days' notice and a hearing pursuant to such notice, the department of licensing may upon reasonable grounds cancel a certificate of self-insurance. Failure to pay any judgment within 30 days after such judgment shall have become final shall constitute a reasonable ground for the cancellation of a certificate of self-insurance.
Certificate of Deposit Requirements.
Proof of financial responsibility may be evidenced by a certificate issued by the department of licensing establishing that the person named therein has deposited with the department $25,000 in cash, or securities such as may legally be purchased by savings banks or for trust funds of a market value of $25,000.
Certificates of deposit must be obtained on a per-firearm basis, with a separate certificate required for each distinct firearm.
Proof of Financial Responsibility.
Whenever an insurance or surety company issues or renews a firearm liability insurance policy or bond, the company shall provide the policyholder or bondholder with an identification card as specified by the department of licensing. At the policyholder's or bondholder's request, the insurance or surety company shall provide the policyholder or bondholder a card for each firearm covered under the policy or bond. The card required by this subsection may be provided in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include the display of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device.
The department of licensing shall adopt rules specifying the type, style, and content of identification cards to be used for proof of compliance with this section, including the method for issuance of such identification cards by persons or organizations providing proof of compliance through self-insurance, certificate of deposit, or bond.
Whenever a law enforcement officer asks any person purchasing or possessing a firearm to display proof of financial responsibility, failure to display such proof creates a presumption that the person has not complied with the financial responsibility requirement of this section.
Failure to provide proof of financial responsibility to purchase or possess a firearm at the request of a dealer while purchasing a firearm, or at the request of a law enforcement officer while possessing a firearm, is a class 1 civil infraction.
For the purposes of this section, when a person uses a portable electronic device to display proof of financial responsibility to a law enforcement officer, the officer may only view the proof of financial responsibility and is otherwise prohibited from viewing any other content on the portable electronic device.
Whenever a person presents a portable electronic device pursuant to this section, that person assumes all liability for any damage to the portable electronic device.
If a person given notice of a civil infraction for a violation of this section appears in person before the court and provides written evidence that at the time the person was given notice, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of this section, the notice of civil infraction shall be dismissed and the court may assess court administrative costs of $25 at the time of dismissal. In lieu of personal appearance, a person given notice of a civil infraction for a violation of this section may, before the date scheduled for the person's appearance before the court, submit by mail to the court written evidence that, at the time the person was given notice, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of this section, in which case the notice of civil infraction shall be dismissed without cost, except that the court may assess court administrative costs of $25 at the time of dismissal.
Any person who knowingly provides false evidence of financial responsibility to a dealer, law enforcement officer, or court, including an expired or canceled insurance policy, bond, or certificate of deposit, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
This section does not apply to:
Antique firearms;
Federal peace officers, general authority Washington peace officers, and limited authority Washington peace officers, as those terms are defined in RCW 10.93.020;
An active member of the United States armed forces while on duty.
The department of licensing may adopt rules for carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this section.
In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, no dealer may deliver a firearm to the purchaser thereof until:
The purchaser provides proof of completion of a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that complies with the requirements in RCW 9.41.1132, or proof that the purchaser is exempt from the training requirement;
The purchaser provides proof the purchaser has complied with or is exempt from the financial responsibility requirements established in section 1 of this act;
The dealer is notified by the Washington state patrol firearms background check program that the purchaser is eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law; and
The requirements and time periods in RCW 9.41.092 have been satisfied.
In determining whether the purchaser is eligible to possess a firearm, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall check with the national instant criminal background check system, provided for by the Brady handgun violence prevention act (18 U.S.C. Sec. 921 et seq.), the Washington state patrol electronic database, the health care authority electronic database, the administrative office of the courts, LInX-NW, and with other agencies or resources as appropriate, to determine whether the applicant is ineligible under RCW 9.41.040 to possess a firearm.
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At the time of applying for the purchase of a firearm, the purchaser shall sign and deliver to the dealer an application containing:
His or her full name, residential address, date and place of birth, race, and gender;
The date and hour of the application;
The applicant's driver's license number or state identification card number;
A description of the firearm including the make, model, caliber and manufacturer's number if available at the time of applying for the purchase of the firearm. If the manufacturer's number is not available at the time of applying for the purchase of a firearm, the application may be processed, but delivery of the firearm to the purchaser may not occur unless the manufacturer's number is recorded on the application by the dealer and transmitted to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program; and
A statement that the purchaser is eligible to purchase and possess a firearm under state and federal law.
The dealer shall provide the applicant with information that contains two warnings substantially stated as follows:
CAUTION: Although state and local laws do not differ, federal law and state law on the possession of firearms differ. If you are prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm, you may be prosecuted in federal court. State permission to purchase a firearm is not a defense to a federal prosecution; and
CAUTION: The presence of a firearm in the home has been associated with an increased risk of death to self and others, including an increased risk of suicide, death during domestic violence incidents, and unintentional deaths to children and others.
The purchaser shall be given a copy of the department of fish and wildlife pamphlet on the legal limits of the use of firearms and firearms safety.
c. The dealer shall, by the end of the business day, transmit the information from the application through secure automated firearms e-check (SAFE) to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program. The original application shall be retained by the dealer for six years.
d. The dealer shall deliver the firearm to the purchaser once the requirements and period of time specified in this chapter are satisfied. The application shall not be denied unless the purchaser is not eligible to purchase or possess the firearm under state or federal law or has not complied with the requirements of this section.
e. The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall retain or destroy applications to purchase a firearm in accordance with the requirements of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922.
A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding identity or eligibility requirements on the application to purchase a firearm is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040.
This section does not apply to sales to licensed dealers for resale or to the sale of antique firearms.
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Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, any person in this state may deposit with the department of licensing at least $25,000 in cash, or securities such as may legally be purchased by savings banks or for trust funds of market value of at least $25,000, for the purpose of complying with section 1 of this act.
The department of licensing shall not accept a deposit or issue a certificate of deposit unless the deposit is accompanied by a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury, stating the depositor's full legal name; mailing address; primary phone number; the make, model, and serial number of the firearm to be covered by the requested certificate; and that there are no unsatisfied judgments of any character against the depositor in the county where the depositor resides.
Any depositor or their representative may return a valid certificate of deposit to the department of licensing in exchange for the return of all corresponding cash or securities that were deposited with the department of licensing to obtain the certificate, but only upon providing the department of licensing with a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury, stating:
The depositor: (i) No longer possesses the firearm covered by the certificate and does not intend to regain possession of that firearm in the future; or (ii) has obtained a valid insurance policy, liability bond, certificate of self-insurance, or another certificate of deposit covering the firearm at issue in accordance with section 1 of this act; and
There are no unsatisfied judgments of any character against the depositor arising from accidental or unintentional discharge of the depositor's covered firearm causing injury, death, or property damage.
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Any claimant who has obtained a final and enforceable legal judgment against a depositor that arises from accidental or unintentional discharge of the depositor's covered firearm causing injury, death, or property damage, and which was issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, may file a request with the department of licensing for payment of the depositor's cash or securities deposited with the department of licensing in satisfaction of the legal judgment against the depositor. Any request filed under this subsection must be accompanied by proof the judgment meets the requirements of this subsection.
If the department of licensing is satisfied the conditions of this subsection have been met, it must provide notice to the depositor of the claim and, no sooner than 30 days after providing notice to the depositor, pay the requested deposit to the claimant unless the court that entered the judgment against the depositor orders the department of licensing to withhold payment of the deposit to the claimant.
After a depositor receives notice a claim has been made against a deposit and before the department of licensing pays the deposit to the claimant, if the depositor believes the claimant is not entitled to payment of the deposit, the depositor may seek an order from the court that entered the judgment against the depositor directing the department of licensing to withhold payment to the claimant.
A certificate of deposit issued under this section is no longer valid if the depositor or their representative requests and obtains the return of the deposit, the value of the deposit falls below $25,000, or the deposit is paid to a claimant in accordance with this section.
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Whenever a person deposits qualifying cash or securities with the department of licensing under this section and provides the department with all required information, the department shall issue a certificate of deposit to that person within 30 days stating the depositor's full legal name, the value of the deposited cash or securities, the date of deposit, the date the certificate was issued, the specific firearm the certificate covers, and contact information to reach the department to verify the authenticity and present validity of the certificate.
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Whenever a person who has previously been issued a certificate of deposit by the department of licensing requests an updated certificate, and the value of the deposit continues to match or exceed $25,000, the department shall issue an updated certificate to that person within 30 days.
The department of licensing shall issue up to one updated certificate of deposit to a requester per calendar year free of charge to the requester, but the department may charge the requester for the costs of time, materials, and mailing required to provide an updated certificate for all subsequent updated certificates issued within the same calendar year.
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The firearm financial responsibility account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from deposits made pursuant to this section must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to (i) return a deposit to a depositor or their representative pursuant to this section; (ii) make a payment to a claimant pursuant to this section; or (iii) make a payment of interest or other income accrued on a deposit to the department of commerce pursuant to this subsection. Only the director of the department of licensing or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
Any interest or other income accrued on a deposit held under this chapter shall be paid quarterly, by the director of the department of licensing or the director's designee, to the department of commerce for the purpose of funding the office of firearm safety and violence prevention.
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The department of licensing shall maintain records of all deposits made under this section, including the depositor's legal name and address, the value and date of each deposit, and whether each deposit is in the department's custody, has been returned in whole or in part to a depositor or their representative, or has been paid in whole or in part to a claimant. The department of licensing shall retain these records while the corresponding deposit remains wholly or partially in place and for at least six years thereafter.
The department of licensing shall maintain records of all certificates of deposit issued under this section, including the legal name and address of each person a certificate has been issued to, the date each certificate was issued, the status and value of any corresponding deposit for which the certificate was issued, the present validity of each certificate issued, and the specific firearm each certificate covers. The department shall retain these records while the corresponding certificate remains valid and for at least six years thereafter.
The department of licensing may adopt rules for carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this section.
(1) All earnings of investments of surplus balances in the state treasury shall be deposited to the treasury income account, which account is hereby established in the state treasury.
(1) All earnings of investments of surplus balances in the state treasury shall be deposited to the treasury income account, which account is hereby established in the state treasury.
A firearm range operator shall carry a general liability insurance policy providing at least $1,000,000 of coverage per incident. Compliance with this requirement constitutes financial responsibility for the purpose of this section.
For the purpose of this section, "firearm range" means a privately owned structure or outdoor area, operated for profit, that allows members of the public to discharge firearms within the structure or outdoor area for testing, training, or recreational purposes, excluding hunting wildlife.
A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
Except for section 5 of this act, this act takes effect January 1, 2027.
Section 4 of this act expires July 1, 2028.
Section 5 of this act takes effect July 1, 2028.