Bill introduced in Washington to update socially disadvantaged business criteria

WA News - Published Feb 17, 2026

A bill has been introduced in the House of the Washington State Legislature which, if passed, would revise the process for determining who is considered "socially disadvantaged" for the purposes of state business certification.

The bill, HB 2684, is sponsored by State Representatives Osman Salahuddin, Lisa Parshley, and Darya Farivar. The bill would establish that "(a) Women; (b) Persons who are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, or Middle Eastern/North African; (c) LGBTQ individuals; and (d) Any other group as determined by the [Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises]" are all "rebuttably presumed" to be socially disadvantaged. The portion of the legal code the bill is amending currently provides no guidance as to which persons are considered socially disadvantaged for purposes of business certification.

Find the bill at https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Year=2025&BillNumber=2684&Initiative=False.

Find the existing law at https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=39.19.120.