Local Government Fiscal Note — 1269 HB, Pawnbroker Fees, Int. Rates (Department of Commerce)

Summary

This is a Local Government Fiscal Note from the Department of Commerce for Bill Number 1269 HB, titled Pawnbroker fees, int. rates. Part I marks possible expenditure impacts to cities and counties related to ordinance amendments applying a new fee schedule. Part II marks that the legislation provides a local option and that key variables cannot be estimated with certainty, and lists estimated expenditure impacts as non-zero but indeterminate cost and/or savings. Part IV says the bill increases the interest rate that pawnbrokers are authorized to charge and decreases the time from 90 to 60 days that a pawnbroker can sell property as a pledge for a loan.

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                           LOCAL GOVERNMENT FISCAL NOTE
                                                     Department of Commerce

Bill Number:       1269 HB              Title:      Pawnbroker fees, int. rates


Part I: Jurisdiction-Location, type or status of political subdivision defines range of fiscal impacts.
Legislation Impacts:
X Cities:     Possible expenditure impacts to cities related to ordinance amendments applying new fee schedule
X Counties:      Same as above but for counties
   Special Districts:

   Specific jurisdictions only:
   Variance occurs due to:

Part II: Estimates
    No fiscal impacts.

    Expenditures represent one-time costs:

X Legislation provides local option:      Local governments may choose to enact more restrictive terms than those referenced in this bill

X Key variables cannot be estimated with certainty at this time:    Which and/or how many cities would need to update local ordinance
                                                                    to comply with new fee schedules
Estimated revenue impacts to:
  None

Estimated expenditure impacts to:

                              Non-zero but indeterminate cost and/or savings. Please see discussion.




Part III: Preparation and Approval
  Fiscal Note Analyst: Stephanie Cook                                             Phone: (360) 725-5035        Date:    02/24/2026
  Leg. Committee Contact:                                                         Phone:                       Date:    02/20/2026
  Agency Approval:       Alice Zillah                                             Phone: 360-725-5035          Date:    02/24/2026
  OFM Review: Kyle Siefering                                                      Phone: (360) 995-3825        Date:    02/24/2026
Page 1 of 2                                                                Bill Number:    1269 HB
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 Part IV: Analysis
A. SUMMARY OF BILL
Description of the bill with an emphasis on how it impacts local government.
   This bill increases the interest rate that pawnbrokers are authorized to charge and receive interest on, laying out a
   payment table for interest, storage, and document preparation fees which each vary by loan amount. The bill also
   decreases the time from 90 to 60 days that a pawnbroker can sell property as a pledge for a loan. Payment options are
   expanded in the case of a person unable to repay a loan by the expiration of the loan through mutually agreed upon
   rewritten loans. Allows for loan payment in person, by mail, or online.

   The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
B. SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURE IMPACTS
Expenditure impacts of the legislation on local governments with the expenditure provisions identified by section number and when
appropriate, the detail of expenditures. Delineated between city, county and special district impacts.


   There may be indeterminate impacts to local governments associated with this bill. Many cities and counties have
   incorporated their own regulations around pawnbroker fees. The majority appear to direct back to the state statutes to
   determine fee amounts. Some jurisdictions reference specific fee schedules directly in their statues, while others
   reference only the terms in RCW 19.60.060. For those local governments referencing specific fee schedules in their
   ordinances, rather than the broader RCW, there may be expenditure costs to update and amend local regulations to align
   with the new fee schedules from this bill.

   The bill also creates a local option for local governments to enact stricter fee terms and would likely require
   expenditures for local jurisdictions choosing to take this option related to amending ordinances and possible public
   hearings. It is unknown how many and/or which local governments would need to change statutes to comply with the
   new proposed fee schedules, or which local governments may pursue the local option of higher fees than the RCW lays
   out and can therefore not be estimated at this time.
C. SUMMARY OF REVENUE IMPACTS
Revenue impacts of the legislation on local governments, with the revenue provisions identified by section number, and when appropriate,
the detail of revenue sources. Delineated between city, county and special district impacts.


   The proposed legislation would have no impact on local government revenues.

   SOURCES
   Senate Bill Report HB 1269 (2026)
   House Bill Report 1269 (2026)
   Municipal Research and Services Center, Washington County and City Codes




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