WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5156

SB 5156: Elevators/smaller apartments

Concerning elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings.

Summary

  • Directs the State Building Code Council (Council) to adopt standards for cities and counties to allow apartment buildings with no more than six stories and 24 units to be served by passenger elevators that are no larger than required to meet federal accessibility requirements.
  • Requires the Council to convene a technical advisory group to consider current elevator hoistway and emergency communication requirements for small apartment buildings.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5156), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 145, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeJan 28, 2025
  3. Passed SenateFeb 19, 2025
  4. Passed HouseMar 4, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 23, 2026
  6. LawMar 23, 2026
Prime sponsor
Jesse Salomon (D-32)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
March 23, 2026
Session law
Chapter 145, Laws of 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5156, SSB 5156, ESSB 5156

AN ACT Relating to elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Jesse Salomon (D-32)

6 co-sponsors (6 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Jessica Bateman D-22Marko Liias D-21T'wina Nobles D-28Marcus Riccelli D-3Sharon Shewmake D-42Derek Stanford D-1

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 19, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5156
42 Yea 6 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat23601
Republican19000
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 13, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5156
41 Yea 7 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat27300
Republican14401
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 4, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5156
93 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55103
Republican38001
How each member voted

Yea (93)

Nay (1)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 9, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5156
41 Yea 6 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25302
Republican16300
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026. (ESSB 5156)
  2. Chapter 145, 2026 Laws. (ESSB 5156)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5156)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5156)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5156)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5156)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 41; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5156)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5156)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 93; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 4. (ESSB 5156)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5156)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (ESSB 5156)
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5156)
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5156)
  14. HOUS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5156)
  15. HOUS - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5156)
  16. First reading, referred to Housing. (ESSB 5156)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 41; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5156)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5156)
  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5156)
  20. Returned to second reading for amendment. (ESSB 5156)
  21. Rules suspended. (ESSB 5156)
  22. Placed on third reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5156)
  23. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESSB 5156)
  24. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (ESSB 5156)
  25. First reading, referred to Housing. (ESSB 5156)
  26. Third reading, passed; yeas, 42; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5156)
  27. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5156)
  28. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5156)
  29. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  30. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5156)
  31. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  32. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5156)
  33. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  34. HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5156)
  35. HSG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  36. First reading, referred to Housing.
  37. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5156 in other sessions

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

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