WA People
BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1240

HB 1240: Firearms/assault weapons

Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety.

Summary

  • Prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of any assault weapon, subject to various exceptions for licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers, and for individuals who inherit an assault weapon.
  • Provides a violation of these restrictions constitutes a gross misdemeanor and is actionable under the Consumer Protection Act.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SHB 1240), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 162, Laws of 2023
  1. IntroducedJan 11, 2023
  2. Out of committeeJan 31, 2023
  3. Passed HouseMar 8, 2023
  4. Passed SenateApr 8, 2023
  5. GovernorApr 25, 2023
  6. LawApr 25, 2023
Prime sponsor
Strom Peterson (D-21)
Introduced
January 11, 2023 in the House
Last action
April 25, 2023
Session law
Chapter 162, Laws of 2023
Requested by
Governor
Companion bill
SB 5265
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1240, SHB 1240

AN ACT Relating to establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety by prohibiting the manufacture, importation, distribution, selling, and offering for sale of assault weapons, and by providing limited exemptions applicable to licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers for purposes of sale to armed forces branches and law enforcement agencies and for purposes of sale or transfer outside the state, and to inheritors;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Strom Peterson (D-21)

25 co-sponsors (25 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Tana Senn D-41Emily Alvarado D-34Amy Walen D-48Chipalo Street D-37Larry Springer D-45Tarra Simmons D-23Kristine Reeves D-30Julia Reed D-36Timm Ormsby D-3Shelley Kloba D-1Joe Fitzgibbon D-34Davina Duerr D-1Beth Doglio D-22Liz Berry D-36Jessica Bateman D-22Jake Fey D-27Lauren Davis D-32Alex Ramel D-40Steve Bergquist D-11Mary Fosse D-38Gerry Pollet D-46Debra Lekanoff D-40Nicole Macri D-43Mia Gregerson D-33Sharon Tomiko Santos D-37

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 8, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
55 Yea 42 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55201
Republican04000
How each member voted

Yea (55)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 8, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
27 Yea 21 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat27101
Republican02000
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 18, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
28 Yea 21 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat28100
Republican02000
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 19, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
56 Yea 42 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56200
Republican04000
How each member voted

Yea (56)

Permalink to this vote
3 other recorded votes (amendments, procedural motions)

Senate · Amendment 376 by McCune (page 15, line 1)

April 8, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
22 Yea 26 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat22601
Republican20000
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 452 by Wagoner (page 13, line 34)

April 18, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
24 Yea 25 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat42500
Republican20000
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment 449 by Padden (page 15, line 5)

April 18, 2023
Version voted on: SHB 1240
21 Yea 28 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat12800
Republican20000
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 4/25/2023. (SHB 1240)
  2. Chapter 162, 2023 Laws. (SHB 1240)
  3. Governor signed. (SHB 1240)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (SHB 1240)
  5. President signed. (SHB 1240)
  6. Speaker signed. (SHB 1240)
  7. House concurred in Senate amendments. (SHB 1240)
  8. Passed final passage; yeas, 56; nays, 42; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SHB 1240)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SHB 1240)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1240)
  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (SHB 1240)
  12. Returned to second reading for amendment. (SHB 1240)
  13. Rules suspended. (SHB 1240)
  14. Senate receded from amendments. (SHB 1240)
  15. House refuses to concur in Senate amendments. Asks Senate to recede from amendments. (SHB 1240)
  16. Amendment ruled beyond the scope and object of the bill. (SHB 1240)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 27; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SHB 1240)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1240)
  19. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (SHB 1240)
  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 1240)
  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1240)
  22. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1240)
  23. LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (SHB 1240)
  24. First reading, referred to Law & Justice. (SHB 1240)
  25. Third reading, passed; yeas, 55; nays, 42; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SHB 1240)
  26. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1240)
  27. Amendment ruled beyond the scope and object of the bill. (SHB 1240)
  28. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 1240)
  29. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  30. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1240)
  31. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  32. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1240)
  33. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  34. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1240)
  35. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1240)
  36. Minority; do not pass.
  37. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  38. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.
  39. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

HB 1240 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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