WA Senate approves permit to purchase gun bill, but not without tweaks

The Washington State Senate took a major step in tightening firearm regulations, passing a heavily amended version of democratically backed House Bill 1163 on Monday.

The vote was 29-19 along party lines and, if signed into law, it would usher in a new era of gun control across the state—including the controversial requirement for a permit to purchase any firearm.

But before gun rights advocates and gun safety supporters get too fired up, here’s the twist: The Senate made some significant changes to the original bill passed by the House in March. So, it’s not a done deal yet. The two chambers will need to hash out the differences—and there are plenty.

So, what’s the bill all about?

At its core, HB 1163 requires anyone who wants to buy a firearm in Washington to first get a permit. That permit won’t be easy to get—applicants will need to pass a certified firearms safety course, undergo a fingerprint-based background check, and pay several fees. And no, just watching a YouTube video on gun safety won’t cut it.

This isn’t just about pistols and semi-automatic rifles anymore. The Senate version expanded the recordkeeping requirements to all firearm transfers, not just specific types. That means every sale, every gift, every transfer—all of it gets logged and tracked by the state.

While the House passed the bill in a 58-38 vote last month along party lines, the Senate had other ideas. Senators added more muscle to the bill, especially around training.

For instance, live fire training means actually shooting a gun under supervised conditions to prove you’re not just booksmart but range-ready. And if you want a concealed pistol license (CPL), you’ll need that live-fire certification too.

Instead of needing it every five years to renew your permit, the new version gives people a full 10-year window.

And it’s not just about getting the permit. The Senate version wants to check every year to make sure permit holders are still legally allowed to own a firearm. If you get convicted of a disqualifying crime, or even have certain types of court orders against you, you can kiss your permit goodbye—and local police will be notified.

Delays and denials

The bill lays out scenarios where dealers will have to hit the pause button on a firearm sale.

If you have an open warrant, pending criminal charges, or mental health red flags, your purchase could be delayed—or denied altogether. And if your permit gets denied or revoked, you’ll get a written notice with the reasons why and instructions on how to appeal.

A permit is valid for five years, but you can start renewing 90 days before or after it expires. Miss that window, and you’ll have to start from scratch.

Who’s exempt?

The bill carves out some exemptions for active-duty military members, police officers, tribal law enforcement, armed security guards, and licensed private investigators — as long as they have proper ID. But even those folks will need to show they’ve had recent firearm training to skip the safety class requirement.

Hunter safety programs run by the Department of Fish and Wildlife will also get an exemption—so long as their courses meet the minimum standards in the law, they’ll count toward your permit training.

Because the Senate changed the bill, it now heads back to the House. Lawmakers there can either accept the changes, or the two chambers can go into conference to negotiate a final version.

Supporters said it’s a common-sense approach to reduce gun violence and make sure people who own guns actually know how to handle them. Critics? They’re calling it government overreach and a potential violation of constitutional rights, saying you shouldn’t have to get a permission slip to exercise a constitutional right.

Matt Markovich is the KIRO Newsradio political analyst. Follow him on X.

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