Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT HOUSE BILL 1046 Chapter 183, Laws of 2025 69TH LEGISLATURE 2025 REGULAR SESSION MOTOR VEHICLE DAMAGE LIABILITY—RESCUE OF VULNERABLE PERSON OR DOMESTIC ANIMAL EFFECTIVE DATE: July 27, 2025 Passed by the House April 17, 2025 Yeas 60 Nays 36 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate April 14, 2025 Yeas 36 Nays 12 JOHN LOVICK President of the Senate CERTIFICATE I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 1046 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BERNARD DEAN Chief Clerk Chief Clerk Approved April 30, 2025 9:29 AM FILED April 30, 2025 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington HOUSE BILL 1046 AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE Passed Legislature - 2025 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Representatives Leavitt, Low, Ryu, Walen, Fitzgibbon, Callan, Bronoske, Peterson, Pollet, Nance, Berg, and Fosse Prefiled 12/11/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary. AN ACT Relating to protecting the vulnerable by providing immunity from civil liability for damage to a motor vehicle arising from the rescue of vulnerable persons or domestic animals; and adding new sections to chapter 4.24 RCW. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows: The definitions in this section apply throughout section 2 of this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Domestic animal" means a dog, cat, or other animal that is domesticated and may be kept as a household pet. The term does not include livestock or other farm animals. (2) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 46.04.320. (3) "Vulnerable person" means a person under the age of 18 years or a person whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living or to provide for their own care or protection is impaired due to a mental, emotional, sensory, long-term physical, or developmental disability or dysfunction, or brain damage, or the infirmities of aging. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows: A person who enters a motor vehicle, by force or otherwise, for the purpose of removing a vulnerable person or domestic animal is immune from civil liability for damage to the motor vehicle if the person: (1) Determines the motor vehicle is locked or there is otherwise no reasonable method for the vulnerable person or domestic animal to exit the motor vehicle without assistance; (2) Has a good faith and reasonable belief, based upon the known circumstances, that entry into the motor vehicle is necessary because the vulnerable person or domestic animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm; (3) Ensures that law enforcement is notified or 911 called before entering the motor vehicle; (4) Uses no more force to enter the motor vehicle and remove the vulnerable person or domestic animal than is necessary; and (5) Remains with the vulnerable person or domestic animal in a safe location, in reasonable proximity to the motor vehicle, until law enforcement, animal control, or other first responders arrive. Passed by the House April 17, 2025. Passed by the Senate April 14, 2025. Approved by the Governor April 30, 2025. Filed in Office of Secretary of State April 30, 2025.
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