The bill amends RCW 2.08.063 to set the number of superior court judges in several counties named in the bill (Lincoln, Skagit, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima, Adams, and Whatcom) and specifically increases the number of superior court judges in Skagit County from four to five. It also creates a new section that conditions the act on appropriations: the act is null and void if the omnibus appropriations act does not provide the specific funding for the purposes of this act, referenced by bill or chapter number, by June 30, 2025. This is a modification of existing law (an amendment to RCW 2.08.063) and a procedural change introducing a funding contingency; it does not create a new crime or change penalties. The Administrative Office of the Courts is listed as the requester. The bill was read for the first time on February 13, 2025, and is identified as H-1336.1, Substitute House Bill 1144, 69th Legislature, 2025 Regular Session. The text provided is incomplete on several points: the full prior text of RCW 2.08.063 is not included, the amount and source of the "specific funding" required are not specified, implementation details for the additional Skagit County judgeship (such as effective date, appointment or election process, and whether the judgeship is permanent or temporary) are not stated, and the cited reference "2024 c 112 s 1" is not provided.

If the bill becomes law and is funded, Skagit County would be authorized to have five superior court judges instead of four, which would increase judicial capacity there and likely require additional ongoing resources for a judge’s salary, benefits, staff, and courtroom support. The Administrative Office of the Courts and the affected superior courts would be the parties most directly involved in implementing and managing that added judge; other named counties are referenced in the statute but no change to their judge counts is specified in the provided text. The change only takes effect if the Legislature includes specific funding for it in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2025; if that funding is not provided the act is null and void, so counties and courts face uncertainty until the appropriation is made. The bill text does not say how large the funding must be, when the new judgeship would start, or how the seat would be filled, so practical planning and budgeting details remain unclear.