A BILL AN ACT Relating to affirming the right to travel and reforming motor vehicle regulation in Washington state; repealing driver licensing requirements; preserving vehicle registration for ownership recordation; and maintaining public safety standards. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Findings—Intent. (1) The Legislature finds that: (a) The right of the people to travel upon the public ways is a fundamental liberty interest; (b) Current driver licensing and testing requirements impose financial and administrative burdens inconsistent with this right; (c) Vehicle registration remains a legitimate and necessary function of state government for purposes of ownership record, identification, and recovery of stolen property; (d) Road safety can be maintained through reasonable rules of operation without conditioning travel upon licenses, fees, or compulsory insurance. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature to: (a) Abolish driver licensing, testing, and road-use fees; (b) Preserve vehicle registration solely for purposes of ownership and identification; (c) Recognize the right to travel as a protected liberty, not a state-granted privilege; and (d) Maintain rules of safe operation on public ways. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this act unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) “Department” means the department of licensing. (2) “Motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in RCW 46.04.320. (3) “Registration” means the issuance of title and identification plates to record ownership of a vehicle. (4) “Public way” means any road, street, highway, or place open to the public for vehicular travel. NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Prohibition on driver licensing. (1) On and after January 1, 2027, the department shall not issue or renew any driver license, instruction permit, or related credential. (2) Existing, unexpired driver licenses shall remain valid as identification cards until their printed expiration date, but shall confer no special privilege to operate a motor vehicle. (3) The department shall convert all driver-license records into state identification card records for non-driving purposes. NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Identification cards. (1) The department shall issue state identification cards to residents upon application. (2) Identification cards shall not be required for the operation of a motor vehicle, but may be used for age verification, voting, and other lawful purposes. (3) Fees for identification cards must be limited to cost recovery and may not exceed twenty dollars. NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Vehicle registration. (1) Every motor vehicle operated on a public way must be registered with the department for the purpose of establishing ownership and issuing identification plates. (2) Registration shall be provided at no cost to the vehicle owner, except for a processing charge not to exceed ten dollars per transaction. (3) Registration shall not be conditioned on proof of insurance, emissions testing, or possession of a driver license. (4) The department shall issue a certificate of registration and identification plates upon completion of registration. NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Right to travel. (1) Every person has a fundamental right to travel upon the public ways of this state by personal conveyance, including motor vehicles, without a driver license, permit, or other credential. (2) The absence of a driver license or proof of insurance shall not constitute an offense, infraction, or probable cause for detention, arrest, or search. NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Operation standards; penalties. (1) All persons operating motor vehicles must exercise ordinary care and obey the safety provisions of chapter 46.61 RCW. (2) A person who operates a motor vehicle in a reckless manner that endangers life, health, or property commits a traffic infraction, or, if serious bodily injury results, a gross misdemeanor. (3) Nothing in this act limits the authority of peace officers to enforce laws against reckless or impaired driving. NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Transition. (1) The department shall conduct a public information campaign beginning no later than July 1, 2026, explaining the elimination of driver licenses and the retention of registration. (2) The office of financial management shall prepare a report on fiscal impacts and recommend adjustments to replace lost licensing revenue. NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Conforming amendments. (1) All references in the Revised Code of Washington to “driver license” as a condition of operating a motor vehicle are hereby repealed or amended to conform with this act. (2) All references to “driver license” for non-driving purposes (such as identification) shall be construed to mean “state identification card.” NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Severability. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or its application to other persons or circumstances is not affected. NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Effective date. This act takes effect January 1, 2027.