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HB1112 • 2026

Judges pro tempore/residency

Removing the city residency requirement for judges pro tempore in municipalities with a population of more than 400,000 inhabitants.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Representative Farivar, Representative Davis, Representative Berry, Representative Reed, Representative Macri, Representative Bergquist, Representative Scott, Representative Ryu, Representative Fitzgibbon, Representative Taylor, Representative Obras, Representative Gregerson, Representative Street, Representative Ormsby, Representative Hill
Last action
2025-04-11
Official status
C 36 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.

Judges pro tempore/residency

Judges pro tempore/residency

What This Bill Does

  • Judges pro tempore/residency

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.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-11 House

    Effective date 7/27/2025.

Official Summary Text

Judges pro tempore/residency

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to removing the city residency requirement for 1
judges pro tempore in municipalities with a population of more than 2
400,000 inhabitants; and amending RCW 35.20.200. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 35.20.200 and 2000 c 55 s 2 are each amended to read 5
as follows: 6
(1) The presiding municipal court judge shall ((, from attorneys 7
residing in the city and qualified to hold the position of judge of 8
the municipal court as provided in RCW 35.20.170,)) appoint judges 9
pro tempore who shall act in the absence of the regular judges of the 10
court or in addition to the regular judges when the administration of 11
justice and the accomplishment of the work of the court make it 12
necessary. The presiding municipal court judge may appoint, as judges 13
pro tempore, any full-time district court judges serving in the 14
county in which the city is situated. The term of office must be 15
specified in writing. 16
(2) A judge pro tempore must be an elector of this state and an 17
attorney admitted to practice law before the courts of record of this 18
state. A judge pro tempore need not be a resident of the city in 19
which the municipal court is located.20
H-0117.1
HOUSE BILL 1112
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Farivar, Davis, Berry, Reed, Macri, Bergquist,
Scott, Ryu, Fitzgibbon, Taylor, Obras, Gregerson, Street, Ormsby, and
Hill
Prefiled 12/20/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Civil Rights & Judiciary.
p. 1 HB 1112
(3) While acting as judge of the court, judges pro tempore shall 1
have all of the powers of the regular judges. Before entering upon 2
his or her duties, each judge pro tempore shall take, subscribe and 3
file an oath as is taken by a municipal judge. Judges pro tempore 4
shall not practice before the municipal court during their term of 5
office as judge pro tempore. ((Such municipal))6
(4) Municipal judges pro tempore shall receive such compensation 7
as shall be fixed by ordinance by the legislative body of the city 8
and such compensation shall be paid by the city except that district 9
court judges shall not be compensated by the city other than pursuant 10
to an interlocal agreement. 11
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1112