2025 Rulemaking

L&I is considering fee increase for services from the Contractor Registration, Electrical, Elevator, Factory Assembled Structures (FAS), and Plumber programs.
The fee increase would be 6.51% - needed to cover program operating expenses. The fee increase represents the adopted fiscal growth factor (average personal income growth over the past decade) for fiscal year 2027.

The agency filed a CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry on Dec. 2.

The fee increase would affect the following:

WAC 296-46B-906, Inspection Fees.
WAC 296-46B-909, Electrical/telecommunications contractor's license, administrator certificate and examination, master electrician certificate and examination, electrician certificate and examination, copy, and miscellaneous fees.
WAC 296-46B-911, Electrical testing laboratory and engineer accreditation fees.
WAC 296-96-00922, Licensing fees.
WAC 296-96-01085, Permit and inspection fees;.
WAC 296-150C-3000, Commercial coach fees;
WAC 296-150F-3000, Factory-built housing and commercial structure fees;
WAC 296-150I-3000, Penalties, fees, and refunds;
WAC 296-150M-3000, Manufactured/mobile home fees;
WAC 296-150P-3000, Recreational park trailer fees;
WAC 296-150R-3000, Recreational vehicle fees;
WAC 296-150T-3000, Factory-built temporary worker housing fees; and
WAC 296-150V-3000, Conversion vendor units and medical units – Fees.
WAC 296-200A-900, What fees does the department charge contractors for issuance, renewal, reregistration, and reinstatement of certificates of registration?
WAC 296-400A-045, What fees does the department charge for issuance, renewal, relicensing, and reinstatement of a plumbing contractor license and plumbing certificates?

Rulemaking documents

Notice of Intent

• CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry

Here's what happens next:

• Feb. 3, 2026: The Proposed rules (CR-102) is expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
• March 12, 2026: A public hearing on the proposed rules is tentatively scheduled.
• May 5, 2026: The final rules (CR-103) are expected to be filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
• July 1, 2026: The new rules are expected to take effect.

2025 Rulemaking - Electric vehicle charging installation

L&I is considering electrical rule changes that would affect requirements for installing electric vehicle supply equipment and electrician and administrator competency examinations. The changes are necessary because of legislation passed earlier this year and to streamline the rules.

The legislation involves Installation of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (SSB 5528 implementation). The changes would affect Chapter 296-46B WAC, Electric Safety Standards, Administration, and Installation.

The agency filed a CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry on Aug. 5.

About the new statutory amendments

Substitute Senate Bill 5528 (SSB 5528) (Chapter 233, 2025 Laws), requires additional certification requirements for electricians performing work on electrical vehicle supply equipment on all public works projects. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The provisions of the law include:

• People installing electric vehicle supply equipment on all public works as defined in RCW 39.4.010, must be certified by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP), or a similar nationally recognized training program;
• The EVITP, or similar nationally recognized program, must be open to all general journey level electricians.
• Certification is required only for work on the electrical components during the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle supply equipment.
• The requirements do not apply to:
  • certain apprentices when the supervising journey level electrician is certified by a training program, and;
  • installation projects under contract as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The Legislature provided L&I authority to adopt rules to implement the requirements.

Electrician and Administrator Competency Examinations

Changes are also being considered to streamline requirements for electrician and administrator competency examinations. The changes under consideration include:

• Requiring individuals to use department-issued unique candidate identification numbers when arranging for administrator competency examinations;
• Increasing the amount of time allowed for testing without having to start a new examination period and retake all sections; and
• Updates, clarifications, housekeeping, and other changes.

Rulemaking document

Notice of Intent (8/5/2025)

• CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry.
• Draft Rule Language - Version 1.

Yet to be scheduled:

• The proposed rules (CR-102) filed with the state Office of the Code Reviser.
• A public hearing on the proposed rules.
• The final rules (CR-103).
• When the changes take effect.

Electrical rules

L&I adopted amendments to the electrical rules.

The changes include:

• Adopting the 2026 edition of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 70, the National Electrical Code (NEC) with a delayed effective date.
• Removing the temperature rating for certain sizes of non-metallic sheathed cable, types NMC and NM carrying the suffix letter “-B”.
• Clarifying the deadline for trainees to report hours of work experience to L&I.
• Additional changes for housekeeping.

The agency filed a Rulemaking Order (CR-103) on Nov. 18.

The changes affect rules under:

• WAC 296-46B-010, General.
• WAC  296-46B-334, Nonmetallic-sheathed cable.
• WAC 296-46B-942, Training certificate required.

The rule amendments take effect Dec. 19.

Rulemaking documents

Notice of intent (05/06/2025)

• CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry.
• Draft Rule Language - Version 1.

Proposed Rule Language (06/03/2025)

• CR-102 Proposed Rulemaking.
• CR-102 Proposed Rule Language.
• Public Hearing Information Packet.
• Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis.

Final Adoption (11/18/2025)

• CR-103 Adoption.
• CR-103 Adoption Language.
• Concise Explanatory Statement.
• Cost Benefit Analysis.

Related resources

• Trades & Licensing Rules Under Development (listed alphabetically) to find electrical safety standards, administration, and installation.
• Current electrical rulemaking.
• Join the Electrical Bulletin to get email notices with important dates and other information about rule changes.

As new policies are approved, they will be posted here. Please check back on a regular basis.