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HB1798 • 2026

Firefighters' pension boards

Enabling county auditors and county treasurers to have designees appointed to firefighters' pension boards.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Representative Volz, Representative Chase, Representative Eslick
Last action
2026-02-19
Official status
H Rules X
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.

Firefighters' pension boards

Firefighters' pension boards

What This Bill Does

  • Firefighters' pension boards

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. 2026-02-19 House

    House Rules "X" file.

Official Summary Text

Firefighters' pension boards

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to enabling county auditors and county treasurers 1
to have designees appointed to firefighters' pension boards; and 2
amending RCW 41.18.015. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 41.18.015 and 2020 c 107 s 4 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) There is hereby created in each fire protection district 7
which qualifies under this chapter, a firefighters' pension board to 8
consist of the following five members, the chairperson of the fire 9
commissioners for said district who shall be chairperson of the 10
board, the county auditor or the county auditor's designee , the 11
county treasurer or the county treasurer's designee , and in addition, 12
two regularly employed or retired firefighters elected by secret 13
ballot of the employed and retired firefighters. Retired members who 14
are subject to the jurisdiction of the pension board have both the 15
right to elect and the right to be elected under this section. The 16
first members to be elected by the firefighters shall be elected 17
annually for a two-year term. The two firefighter elected members 18
shall, in turn, select a third eligible member who shall serve in the 19
event of an absence of one of the regularly elected members. In case 20
a vacancy occurs in the membership of the firefighter or retired 21
H-0886.1
HOUSE BILL 1798
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Volz, Chase, and Eslick
Read first time 02/03/25. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
p. 1 HB 1798
members, the members shall in the same manner elect a successor to 1
serve the unexpired term. The board may select and appoint a 2
secretary who may, but need not be a member of the board. In case of 3
absence or inability of the chairperson to act, the board may select 4
a chairperson pro tempore who shall during such absence or inability 5
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chairperson. A 6
majority of the members of said board shall constitute a quorum and 7
have power to transact business. 8
(2) If no eligible regularly employed or retired firefighters are 9
willing or able to be elected to the board under subsection (1) of 10
this section, then the following individuals may be elected to the 11
board under subsection (1) of this section: 12
(a) Any active or retired firefighters who reside within the 13
jurisdiction served by the board. This includes active and retired 14
firefighters under this chapter and chapters 41.16, 41.26, and 52.26 15
RCW; 16
(b) The widow or widower of a firefighter subject to the 17
jurisdiction of the board. 18
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1798