Rulemaking Activity

Using the search or table below, you can find a complete list of all current rulemaking activity and rules that have been adopted within the past 12 months by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and any health profession board or commission vested with rulemaking authority, including the State Board of Health.

The Title column can be sorted ascending and descending by clicking on the small triangle next to the title heading, or you can use the search bar at the top of the list. To use the search, enter key terms for the rule you are looking to locate. For example, if you enter "drinking water" in the search box, all rules with that exact phrase in their titles will appear at the top of the list. If you aren't finding what you're looking for, try single words—such as just "drinking" or just "water"—to broaden your results.

This page is updated twice each month. View timelines for hearings and providing comments, and links to connect with programs directly for additional information.

Key Definitions

WAC: Washington Administrative Code, rules and regulations adopted by state agencies to implement laws passed by the Legislature.

WSR: Washington State Register, official publication of state agency rulemaking activity.

Effective Date: Date the rule was adopted.

Rule Status

  • Adopted: Rule was adopted and is enforceable. Also known as a CR-103P filing.
  • Considering rulemaking: Identifying and investigating the need for rule development and allowing interested parties the opportunity to participate. Also known as a CR-101 filing, it comes before the CR-102 filing.
  • Emergency rule: Also known as a CR-103E filing, the immediate implementation of a temporary rule necessary to protect the public and general welfare.
  • Expedited: Also known as a CR-105 filing, a condensed rulemaking timeline for minor rule changes. This allows for a comment period but bypasses a hearing.
  • Proposal and comment: Proposal of rule changes and opportunity to provide formal input. Also known as a CR-102 filing.
  • Repealed: A previous rule in effect is no longer enforceable.
  • Suspended: When an existing section of rule, or an entire chapter of rule, is on hold (not in effect) for a specified period of time and then goes back into effect.
  • Withdrawn: Consideration or proposal of a rule was withdrawn and was not adopted into law.
Title WAC WSR Status Comments Accepted Until CR-101 Filed CR-102 Filed CR-103 Filed CR-103E Filed CR-105 Filed Further Information Hearing Date Time Hearing Location Effective Date
Withdrawal of CR-101 About Psychologist Amended Licensure Requirements 246-924 WAC 24-11-056 Withdrawn | Read the CR-101

The Examining Board of Psychology is withdrawing a preproposal statement of inquiry amending psychology licensing requirements in chapter 246-924 WAC filed February 23, 2023, and published as WSR 23-06-041 because additional legislation requires the board to adopt rules on additional topics. The board will engage in rulemaking under a new rule package. 
Withdrawal of CR101 for Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Directory 246-809 WAC 24-10-009 Withdrawn

Recent legislation substantially amended the structure of the planned stipend program. The department filed a new CR-101 to give appropriate notice to all impacted interested parties. Filed April 18, 2024.
Withdrawal of CR101 for On-site Potable Water Systems 246-275 WAC 24-09-068 Withdrawn

The Department of Health withdrew the CR101 filed as WSR 21-17-040 for non-potable water systems because the scope of the possible rulemaking was too narrow. The department filed a broader scope to develop a more comprehensive rule. Filed April 16, 2024.
Withdrawal of Duplicate Filing 246-809 WAC 24-14-123 Withdrawn

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) withdrew the CR103E filed as WSR 24-14-091 on July 1, 2024, which reduces barriers to licensure and streamlines the credentialing process for the mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, and social worker professions because it was a duplicate for WSR 24-14-080 which was filed on June 28, 2024.
Withdrawal of Emergency Department Data Reporting 25-17-020 Withdrawn

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) withdrew the CR101 filed under WSR 17-21-075 because it has been replaced by a new CR101, WSR 25-17-001, considering the same topic. Filed August 11, 2025, as WSR 25-17-020.
Withdrawal of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons General Provision for Opioid Prescribing and Tapering Rules WAC 246-853-661
WAC 246-853-730
WAC 246-853-755 		25-17-019 Withdrawn

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) withdrew CR 101 WSR 24-04-066 in consideration of general provisions for opioid prescribing in order to reconsider rulemaking with a broader scope. Filed August 11, 2025, as WSR 25-17-019.
Withdrawal of Proposal – Athletic Trainers Review of Initial License and Endorsement Requirements WAC 246-916-030 24-21-035 Withdrawn

Withdrawal of WSR 24-13-078, CR101 for WAC 246-916- 030, Applicants Currently Licensed in Other States. A new CR-101 will be filed to include WAC 246-916-010 to also consider national certification. Withdrawal filed as WSR 24-21-035.
Withdrawal of Proposal – Home Care Aide Examinations WAC 246-980-100
246-980 WAC 		24-21-057 Withdrawn

Withdrawal of WSR 23-04-064, CR101 for WAC 246-980-100 and chapter 246-980 WAC regarding home care aide examinations. The CR-101 is no longer needed as the objectives of this rulemaking project were completed under another rulemaking project that was recently finalized on July 9, 2024, under WSR 24-15-025. Withdrawal filed as WSR 24-21-057.
Withdrawal of Public Water System Fees WAC 246-290-990 25-16-069 Withdrawn

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) withdrew consideration to amend fees related to water systems under WSR 24-08-068 in order to incorporate these fees into a larger division wide fee update. Filed August 1, 2025, as WSR 25-16-069.
Withdrawal of Shellfish Fee Rulemaking WAC 246-282-990 24-08-079 Withdrawn

The Department of Health withdrew the CR-101 published as WSR 23-04-061 and the CR-102 published as WSR 23-23-186 for WAC 246-282-990, Shellfish fees, because the 2024 Legislature passed a budget proviso that gives the department funding to contract with an independent third-party consultant to study the commercial shellfish regulatory program and make recommendations on fees. The budget proviso prohibits the department from increasing commercial shellfish fees during fiscal year 2025. Filed as WSR 24-08-079 and WSR 24-08-079A.
Withdrawal of Temporary Worker Housing Fees WAC 246-358-990 25-16-080 Withdrawn

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has withdrawn the CR-101 WSR 24-03-138 related to temporary worker housing fees because these fees are being incorporated into a larger environmental public health division-wide fee update. Filed August 4, 2025, as WSR 25-16-080.
Withdrawal of Uniform Facility Enforcement Framework for Behavioral Health Agencies (BHAs) 246-341 WAC 25-13-074 Withdrawn

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) withdrew CR-101 filed under WSR 25-03-002 regarding uniform enforcement framework for BHAs in order to consider including additional facility types.

Filed June 16, 2025, as WSR 25-13-074.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Vendor Rules 246-790 WAC 25-15-019 Adopted | Read the CR-101 | Read the CR-102 | Read the CR-103

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) adopted amendments to chapter 246-790 WAC revising the WIC vendor requirements, including vendor criteria and application procedures to encourage more vendors to participate.
X-rays in the Healing Arts, Radiation Therapy, Fluoroscopic X-ray, Shielding Requirements WAC 246-225-020
WAC 246-225-030
246-225 WAC 		24-03-137 Considering rulemaking | Read the CR-101

The Department of Health is considering amending existing rules WAC 246-225-020 and 246-225-030 and creating new rules in chapter 246-225 WAC, X-Rays in the Healing Arts, to address technological advances in radiation therapy and fluoroscopic X-ray, establish machine performance and quality control standards, and to address plan review shielding requirements. Amendments to radiation therapy rules considered by the department will apply only to machine generated ionizing radiation, and not radiopharmaceuticals or radioactive materials.