HB1976 • 2026

Release of pets & plants

Increasing awareness of the potential harm caused by releasing pets or aquatic plants into the natural environment.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Representative Donaghy, Representative Bronoske, Representative Parshley, Representative Scott, Representative Obras
Last action: 2026-01-12
Official status: H Ag&Nr
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.

Release of pets & plants

What This Bill Does

Release of pets & plants

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.

1976 AMH ENGE H1834.1

145 • Engell

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1976 AMH ENGE H1834.1 HB 1976 - H AMD 145 By Representative Engell NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 1, line 5, after "Sec.

1976 AMH ENGE H1834.1 HB 1976 - H AMD 145 By Representative Engell NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 1, line 5, after "Sec.
1." insert "(1)"1 On page 1, at the beginning of line 8, strike " (1)" and insert 2 "(a)" 3 On page 1, at the beginning of line 11, strike " (2)" and insert 4 "(b)" 5 On page 1, at the beginning of line 13, strike " (3)" and insert 6 "(c)" 7 On page 1, at the beginning of line 14, strike " (4)" and insert 8 "(d) "Council" means the Washington invasive species council created 9 in RCW 79A.25.310.
10 (e)" 11 On page 1, at the beginning of line 15, strike " (5)" and insert 12 "(f)" 13 On page 1, after line 18, insert the following:14 "(2) This section expires July 1, 2027." 15 On page 1, line 19, after " Sec.
2.

1976 AMH DONA LEWI 045

99 • Donaghy

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1976 AMH DONA LEWI 045 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Replaces the requirement that a retail pet store provide a pamphlet specific to the animal family or aquatic plant a customer purchases with a requirement that a retail pet store provide a card that contains a warning against releasing pets into the wild and a quick response code that leads to the website of the Washington Invasive Species Council containing certain information.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1976 AMH DONA LEWI 045 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Replaces the requirement that a retail pet store provide a pamphlet specific to the animal family or aquatic plant a customer purchases with a requirement that a retail pet store provide a card that contains a warning against releasing pets into the wild and a quick response code that leads to the website of the Washington Invasive Species Council containing certain information.
1976 AMH DONA LEWI 045 HB 1976 - H AMD 99 By Representative Donaghy NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 1, after line 18, insert the following: "(6) "Council" means the Washington invasive species council created in RCW 79A.25.310." On page 2, beginning on line 1, after "plant" strike all material through "species" on line 20 and insert "a card that contains the phrase "Don’t release your pets into the wild – invasive species can cause more damage than you think!" and a quick response code to the internet website of the council containing current information about the risks of abandoning pets and plants in the wild, resources to identify potential invasive species, and applicable state laws related to invasive species" --- END

Bill History

2026-01-12 House
Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

Official Summary Text

Release of pets & plants

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

AN ACT Relating to increasing awareness of the potential harm 1
caused by releasing pets or aquatic plants into the natural 2
environment; and adding a new chapter to Title 16 RCW.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The definitions in this section apply 5
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires 6
otherwise.7
(1) "Animal" means a nonhuman member of the kingdom animalia 8
encompassing all vertebrate and invertebrate species, including 9
mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, shellfish, and insects.10
(2) "Aquatic invasive species" has the same meaning as in RCW 11
77.135.010. 12
(3) "Aquatic plant" has the same meaning as in RCW 77.135.010.13
(4) "Invasive species" has the same meaning as in RCW 77.135.010.14
(5) "Retail pet store" means a commercial establishment that 15
engages in a for-profit business of selling at retail animals to be 16
kept as household pets and is regulated by the United States 17
department of agriculture. 18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A retail pet store that sells animals as 19
pets, including exotic animals, or aquatic plants shall provide to 20
H-1366.1
HOUSE BILL 1976
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Donaghy, Bronoske, Parshley, Scott, and Obras
Read first time 02/14/25. Referred to Committee on Agriculture &
Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 1976
customers who purchase an animal or aquatic plant an informational 1
pamphlet prepared by the Washington invasive species council 2
established under RCW 79A.25.320 that is related to either the animal 3
family or the aquatic plant the customer purchases. At a minimum, the 4
pamphlet shall include information about: 5
(1) Invasive species or aquatic invasive species and the threat 6
these species present to native ecosystems; 7
(2) Problems that can arise if an animal with no natural 8
predators is released into the natural environment;9
(3) Actions a customer can take in the event the customer needs 10
to rehome an animal, including a list of entities who may accept the 11
animal; 12
(4) Actions a customer can take in the event the customer needs 13
to dispose of unwanted aquatic plant material; 14
(5) Additional resources to identify invasive species and 15
invasive aquatic species, including how aquatic plants can sometimes 16
harbor invasive species; and 17
(6) Applicable state laws that prohibit the possession, 18
transport, or trafficking of prohibited invasive species and aquatic 19
invasive species. 20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Sections 1 and 2 of this act constitute a 21
new chapter in Title 16 RCW.22
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1976