WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION

HB 2632: Noncitizen terminology

Modernizing terminology when referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States.

Summary

  • Replaces certain references to the term "alien" with the term "noncitizen."
  • Requires all state and local statutes and other official documents enacted after July 1, 2026, to use the term "noncitizen" or other context-appropriate term, instead of the term "alien," when referring to an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, unless use of the term "alien" is required to comply with federal law or funding requirements.
  • Allows state agencies to use the expedited rulemaking process if the proposed rule only substitutes the term "alien" with the term "noncitizen" or other context-appropriate term but does not change the effect of the rule.

From the House Bill Report (HB 2632), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 36, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 22, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 4, 2026
  3. Passed HouseFeb 16, 2026
  4. Passed SenateMar 3, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 11, 2026
  6. LawMar 11, 2026
Prime sponsor
My-Linh Thai (D-41)
Introduced
January 22, 2026 in the House
Last action
March 11, 2026
Session law
Chapter 36, Laws of 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to modernizing terminology when referring to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: My-Linh Thai (D-41)

17 co-sponsors (17 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Sharlett Mena D-29Lauren Davis D-32Mia Gregerson D-33Lisa Parshley D-22Zach Hall D-5Greg Nance D-23Mary Fosse D-38Edwin Obras D-33Roger Goodman D-45Julio Cortes D-38Timm Ormsby D-3Jamila Taylor D-30Shaun Scott D-43Janice Zahn D-41Nicole Macri D-43Sharon Tomiko Santos D-37Osman Salahuddin D-48

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 16, 2026
Version voted on: HB 2632
58 Yea 39 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican03900
How each member voted

Yea (58)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 3, 2026
Version voted on: HB 2632
31 Yea 18 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican11800
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026*.
  2. Chapter 36, 2026 Laws.
  3. Governor signed.
  4. Delivered to Governor.
  5. President signed.
  6. Speaker signed.
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 31; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0.
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  11. Minority; do not pass.
  12. SGTE - Majority; do pass.
  13. First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 58; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 1.
  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  16. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  17. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  18. SGOV - Executive action taken by committee.
  19. Minority; do not pass.
  20. SGOV - Majority; do pass.
  21. First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.

HB 2632 in other sessions

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

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