The Washington State House Local Government Committee approved an amendment and reported two bills out of committee on the day’s agenda: substitute House Bill 1562 (baby diaper changing stations) was reported out with a due-pass recommendation after adoption of an amendment raising the renovation threshold; and House Bill 1600 (increase to the marriage-license fee) was reported out with a due-pass recommendation.

HB 1562 (diaper-changing stations)
The committee adopted an amendment (listed in the record as RIC 365, offered by Representative Hunt) that raises the dollar threshold for a public-restroom renovation or remodel that would trigger a diaper-changing station requirement from $10,000 to $15,000. Representative Hunt said the change responds to stakeholder concerns that construction costs have risen and that raising the threshold will ease the burden on businesses while advancing accessibility. After adopting the amendment, the committee incorporated it into a substitute and voted to report substitute House Bill 1562 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee staff recorded the final tally as 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent.

What the bill requires
Substitute House Bill 1562 would require a baby diaper changing station in both a restroom accessible to women and a restroom accessible to men, or in a general/neutral restroom, in certain public buildings, and would require the feature in each newly constructed public building. The adopted amendment raises the financial trigger for when remodels must include the stations from $10,000 to $15,000.

HB 1600 (marriage-license fee increase)
Vice Chair Barshley moved that House Bill 1600 be reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and debated briefly. Opponents on the record expressed concern about incremental fee increases; supporters said the fee had not risen since the 1990s and the additional revenue would support family services. A roll-call vote was recorded with the following results: Representative Duer — aye; Representative Parsley — aye; Representative Clicker — nay (recorded as "nay without recommendation"); Representative Stebe — aye; Representative Griffey — aye; Representative Hunt — aye; Representative Zahn — aye. The staff tally recorded 6 ayes, 1 nay. By that vote, House Bill 1600 was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

Votes at a glance
- Substitute HB 1562 (diaper-changing stations), as amended by RIC 365 (Rep. Hunt): reported out with a due-pass recommendation; recorded tally 7 ayes, 0 nays. Amendment adopted by voice vote.
- HB 1600 (increase marriage-license fee from $15 to $30): reported out with a due-pass recommendation; recorded tally 6 ayes, 1 nay (Representative Clicker recorded as nay without recommendation).

Context and next steps
Committee staff briefed both bills during the session; HB 1562 had previously been discussed and stakeholders were engaged in drafting the amendment, according to Representative Hunt. Both bills were sent out of committee with due-pass recommendations and will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.

Ending
The committee adjourned after reporting both bills out; staff instructed members to drive safely and reconvene on the committee’s next scheduled date.