HB1046 • 2026

Motor vehicle damage/rescue

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.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Leavitt, Representative Low, Representative Ryu, Representative Walen, Representative Fitzgibbon, Representative Callan, Representative Bronoske, Representative Peterson, Representative Pollet, Representative Nance, Representative Berg, Representative Fosse
Last action: 2025-04-30
Official status: C 183 L 25
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Motor vehicle damage/rescue

What This Bill Does

Motor vehicle damage/rescue

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

1046 AMS LAW S2395.1

0 • Law & Justice

ADOPTED

Plain English: 1046 AMS LAW S2395.1 HB 1046 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Law & Justice ADOPTED 04/14/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.

1046 AMS LAW S2395.1 HB 1046 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Law & Justice ADOPTED 04/14/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
Sec.
1.
A new section is added to chapter 4.24 3 RCW to read as follows: 4 The definitions in this section apply throughout section 2 of 5 this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise.6 (1) "Domestic animal" means a dog, cat, or other animal that is 7 domesticated and may be kept as a household pet.

1046 AMH JACO H1025.1

15 • Jacobsen

NOT ADOPTED

Plain English: 1046 AMH JACO H1025.1 HB 1046 - H AMD 15 By Representative Jacobsen NOT ADOPTED 01/30/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.

1046 AMH JACO H1025.1 HB 1046 - H AMD 15 By Representative Jacobsen NOT ADOPTED 01/30/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
Sec.
1.
A new section is added to chapter 4.24 3 RCW to read as follows: 4 The definitions in this section apply throughout sections 2 and 3 5 of this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise.6 (1) "Domestic animal" means a dog, cat, or other animal that is 7 domesticated and may be kept as a household pet.

Bill History

2025-04-30 House
Effective date 7/27/2025.

Official Summary Text

Motor vehicle damage/rescue

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

AN ACT Relating to protecting the vulnerable by providing 1
immunity from civil liability for damage to a motor vehicle arising 2
from the rescue of vulnerable persons or domestic animals; and adding 3
new sections to chapter 4.24 RCW. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW 6
to read as follows: 7
The definitions in this section apply throughout section 2 of 8
this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise.9
(1) "Domestic animal" means a dog, cat, or other animal that is 10
domesticated and may be kept as a household pet. The term does not 11
include livestock or other farm animals. 12
(2) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 13
46.04.320. 14
(3) "Vulnerable person" means a person under the age of 18 years 15
or a person whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily 16
living or to provide for their own care or protection is impaired due 17
to a mental, emotional, sensory, long-term physical, or developmental 18
disability or dysfunction, or brain damage, or the infirmities of 19
aging. 20
H-0191.1
HOUSE BILL 1046
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.
p. 1 HB 1046
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW 1
to read as follows: 2
A person who enters a motor vehicle, by force or otherwise, for 3
the purpose of removing a vulnerable person or domestic animal is 4
immune from civil liability for damage to the motor vehicle if the 5
person: 6
(1) Determines the motor vehicle is locked or there is otherwise 7
no reasonable method for the vulnerable person or domestic animal to 8
exit the motor vehicle without assistance; 9
(2) Has a good faith and reasonable belief, based upon the known 10
circumstances, that entry into the motor vehicle is necessary because 11
the vulnerable person or domestic animal is in imminent danger of 12
suffering harm; 13
(3) Ensures that law enforcement is notified or 911 called before 14
entering the motor vehicle or immediately thereafter;15
(4) Uses no more force to enter the motor vehicle and remove the 16
vulnerable person or domestic animal than is necessary; and17
(5) Remains with the vulnerable person or domestic animal in a 18
safe location, in reasonable proximity to the motor vehicle, until 19
law enforcement, animal control, or other first responders arrive.20
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1046