This bill adds a new section to chapter 39.26 RCW governing interpreter services procured under RCW 39.26.300. It requires contracting departments to fully pay language access providers for spoken language interpreter services within 30 days of receiving a complete and valid invoice or other appropriate record. Contracting departments may not recoup payments or bill a language access provider later if a public assistance applicant or recipient, injured worker, or crime victim is later found ineligible under Title 51 or 74 RCW, may not limit the daily amount of time for which providers may be paid, and may not require providers to register with any database or registry that publishes their personal contact information online. The bill requires contracting departments to adopt rules for compensating providers when an appointment is canceled or a client fails to appear and to provide mileage reimbursement at a rate at least equal to the Internal Revenue Service business standard mileage rate. If a department pays less than the amounts due under this section, the department is liable for the full remaining amount plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as allowed by the court. The term “contracting department” is defined by example to include several state agencies, and “language access provider” is referenced to the definition in RCW 41.56.030. This is a new statutory provision creating procedural and payment protections for interpreter service providers and imposing civil liability on contracting departments for underpayment. The text available does not include the full scope of “interpreter services procured under” RCW 39.26.300, the text of the definition of “language access provider” in RCW 41.56.030, any deadline or procedural details for adopting the required rules, or an effective date or full codification placement beyond adding a section to chapter 39.26 RCW. House Bill 2032 (H-1708.1), 69th Legislature, 2025 Regular Session; read first time 03/03/25; referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations.

If enacted, interpreters hired by state agencies would get paid faster and with fewer risks: agencies must pay a complete invoice within 30 days, cannot claw back or bill interpreters if a public assistance applicant, injured worker, or crime victim is later found ineligible under Title 51 or 74, cannot cap daily billable time, and must reimburse travel at least at the IRS business mileage rate. Agencies also must adopt rules to handle canceled appointments and no-shows, and they would face liability for unpaid balances plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs if they underpay. The groups most affected are language access providers and the listed contracting departments (Labor and Industries, Social and Health Services, Children, Youth, and Families, Enterprise Services, Health Care Authority). Interpreters will likely see improved cash flow, less exposure to retroactive billing, and additional travel pay; contracting departments will need to change contracting, budgeting, and payment procedures and may see higher short-term costs and greater legal exposure. It is unclear from the provided text exactly which interpreter contracts are covered (scope depends on RCW 39.26.300), how “language access provider” is defined in practice, and when the required rules must be adopted or take effect.