Private security guards

AN ACT Relating to private security guards; amending RCW 1
18.170.030, 18.170.040, and 18.170.165; adding a new section to 2
chapter 18.170 RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that private 5
security guards are required to pay an initial licensing fee of $101 6
and an annual license renewal fee of $95. These recurring out-of-7
pocket costs create a significant barrier for workers entering and 8
remaining in the security guard profession, particularly in an 9
industry characterized by modest wages, irregular hours, and high 10
turnover.11
(2) The legislature recognizes that private security guards 12
frequently serve as frontline responders, working in challenging and 13
high-risk environments to protect people, property, and public 14
safety. Ensuring that qualified individuals are not excluded from 15
this profession due to licensing costs strengthens workforce 16
stability and improves public safety outcomes across Washington.17
(3) The legislature further finds that the private security 18
industry is dominated by large, well-capitalized corporations with 19
substantial revenues and extensive workforces. Six of the major 20
employers in the industry have a workforce of thousands of employees 21
H-2820.1
HOUSE BILL 2422
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Obras, Berry, Parshley, Ryu, Scott, Salahuddin,
Simmons, Ormsby, Macri, Goodman, and Reed
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
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and each report annual revenues of over $1,000,000,000, with the two 1
largest reporting revenues of $15,000,000,000 and $20,000,000,000. 2
These employers are far better positioned than individual security 3
guards to absorb the cost of licensing and renewal fees.4
(4) The legislature concludes that requiring security guards to 5
shoulder these licensing costs places a disproportionate burden on 6
frontline security guards while providing a financial benefit to 7
large corporate employers. Therefore, the legislature intends to 8
rebalance responsibility within the industry by promoting fairness, 9
improving worker retention, and supporting a stable and professional 10
private security guard workforce that serves the public interest by 11
shifting the cost of the licensing fees to the employer.12
Sec. 2. RCW 18.170.030 and 2012 c 118 s 2 are each amended to 13
read as follows: 14
An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to 15
obtain a private security guard license: 16
(1) Be at least eighteen years of age; 17
(2) Be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien;18
(3) Not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction, if 19
the director determines that the applicant's particular crime 20
directly relates to his or her capacity to perform the duties of a 21
private security guard, and the director determines that the license 22
should be withheld to protect the citizens of Washington state. The 23
director shall make her or his determination to withhold a license 24
because of previous convictions notwithstanding the restoration of 25
employment rights act, chapter 9.96A RCW; 26
(4) Be employed by or have an employment offer from a licensed 27
private security company or be licensed as a private security 28
company; 29
(5) Satisfy the training requirements established by the 30
director; 31
(6) Submit a set of fingerprints; however, if an applicant has 32
been issued a license as a private investigator under chapter 18.165 33
RCW within the last twelve months, the applicant is not required to 34
undergo a separate background check to become licensed under this 35
chapter; and36
(7) ((Pay the required nonrefundable fee for each application; 37
and38
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(8))) Submit a fully completed application that includes proper 1
identification on a form prescribed by the director for each company 2
of employment, including the private security company's billing pin.3
Sec. 3. RCW 18.170.040 and 1991 c 334 s 4 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to 6
obtain an armed private security guard license: 7
(a) Be licensed as a private security guard; 8
(b) Be at least twenty-one years of age; and9
(c) Have a current firearms certificate issued by the 10
commission((; and11
(d) Pay the fee established by the director)).12
(2) An armed private security guard license may take the form of 13
an endorsement to the security guard license if deemed appropriate by 14
the director. 15
Sec. 4. RCW 18.170.165 and 1995 c 277 s 2 are each amended to 16
read as follows: 17
A licensee who transfers from one company to another must submit 18
a transfer application on a form prescribed by the director ((along 19
with a transfer fee established by the director)).20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 18.170 21
RCW to read as follows: 22
(1) A private security company shall pay the respective 23
application, license renewal, and endorsement fees required for all 24
private security guards employed, or who have received an offer of 25
employment, by the company. The private security company must provide 26
a billing pin to the employee or potential employee for submission on 27
their application, license renewal, or endorsement forms.28
(2) A private security company is prohibited from requiring a 29
private security guard employed by the company to reimburse the 30
application, license renewal, or endorsement fees, including 31
deducting such costs from the employee's wages. A private security 32
company found to be in violation of this section is subject to a 33
monetary penalty of $500 per violation to be enforced by the 34
department. A private security company found to have subsequent 35
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violations of this section may be subject to license suspension or 1
revocation at the determination of the director. 2
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