Governor Bob Ferguson signs a dozen bills, issues narrow vetoes on unfunded or emergency provisions

Governor Bob Ferguson held a bill-signing event and signed roughly a dozen measures into law, praising legislative work on criminal investigations, tribal consultation, energy infrastructure, tax code fixes and retirement benefits. "For those watching on TBW, I'm governor Bob Ferguson, and we are signing, I think, this afternoon," he said as he opened the session.

The bills signed include a package of measures requested by the attorney general, changes to tribal consultation and codification of an Office of Indian Affairs, limits and rules for sports betting involving in-state college teams, and climate- and energy-related statutes. On House Bill 21-56, Ferguson said the bill "makes it easier for the attorney general's office to gain access to these records to better investigate and solve these important cases," describing the change as removing the requirement that certain warrants be served by law enforcement while holding AG investigations to established standards.

The governor also signed legislation aimed at improving government-to-government consultation with tribes and establishing a governor-level Governor's Office of Indian Affairs in statute, which he framed as protecting tribal sovereignty and improving intergovernmental coordination. "This ensures there will always be a governor level cabinet agency in Washington state with the responsibility to engage and build strong relationships with federally recognized tribes," Ferguson said while introducing the bill to be codified.

On sports betting, Ferguson signed Senate Bill 61-37 to allow regulated wagering at tribal casinos and on in-state college teams while banning bets on individual athletes and in-game coaching or officiating decisions. He described the measure as balancing consumer protection and regulated markets.

Ferguson signed several energy and land-use measures. Senate Bill 63-55 creates a Washington Electric Transmission Authority to accelerate needed upgrades and expansion of transmission lines to support the state's clean energy transition. He also signed Senate Bill 58-20, which changes a special authority previously granted to Clark County so that it follows the same process as other counties under the Growth Management Act.

On retirement benefits, the governor signed Senate Bill 58-62, which provides a one-time 3% benefit increase for eligible retirees in Public Employees' Retirement System Plan 1 and Teachers Retirement System Plan 1. "This 1 time 3% benefit increase goes into effect on July 1 for eligible retirees who retired on or before 07/01/2025," Ferguson said.

Ferguson announced a number of limited vetoes tied to funding or timing concerns. He vetoed Section 7 of House Bill 22-15 (a Climate Commitment Act-related bill) that contained an emergency clause making the bill immediately effective, noting the bill already specifies an effective date of January 2027. He also vetoed Section 3 of Senate Bill 62-46, which would have required the Department of Ecology to conduct a $1,500,000 study that was not funded in the bill. On Senate Bill 61-13 (tax code adjustments) he vetoed a provision creating a new tax penalty waiver program that his office estimated would cost more than $550,000 and directed the Department of Revenue to provide equivalent relief using existing authority and programs.

Other measures signed include House Bill 24-96 to improve tribal consultation on siting major energy facilities; House Bill 19-03 establishing a statewide low-income energy assistance program (with Ferguson vetoing a section that would create an advisory group before funding is provided); and House Bill 22-15 closing a loophole in the Climate Commitment Act related to sales of fuel in smaller quantities. Ferguson thanked legislative sponsors repeatedly during the event, naming prime sponsors when introducing each bill.

The event was ceremonial and included photos with sponsors and supporters after each signing. Several measures take effect on dates specified in the laws; where the governor vetoed specific sections, he left the substantive funded provisions intact but removed unfunded or immediate-effect clauses that he said exceeded available resources or the appropriate timing.

What happens next: the substantive provisions that were signed will take effect on the dates set in each law; the governor’s vetoes remove specific sections that were not funded or that imposed immediate obligations without budget support. The administration instructed relevant agencies (Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, Department of Ecology) to implement signed, funded provisions consistent with statutory deadlines and available appropriations.