Substitute Senate Bill 5534 amends multiple weapons-related statutes and creates new regulatory and procedural requirements. It adds a definition of "spring blade knife" and specifies that a spring blade knife is not a "dangerous weapon" under RCW 9.41.250, while making manufacturing, selling, disposing of, or possessing slung shots, sand clubs, or metal knuckles a gross misdemeanor, making furtively carrying certain daggers or pistols a gross misdemeanor, and making use of an unregistered firearm suppressor a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW. The bill repeals RCW 9.41.251. The bill tightens prohibitions and penalties for weapons on school and child care premises. RCW 9.41.280 is amended to make it unlawful to knowingly carry or possess firearms, specified dangerous weapons, nunchaku, throwing stars, air guns, stun devices, and spring blade knives on school property or school transportation; a first violation is a misdemeanor and subsequent violations are gross misdemeanors, conviction for carrying a firearm triggers three-year revocation and a three-year bar on applying for a concealed pistol license, and arrest procedures include possible detention up to 72 hours for persons aged 12–21 and mandatory referral to a designated crisis responder within 24 hours. RCW 9.41.282 applies similar prohibitions and a gross misdemeanor penalty to licensed child care centers, requires GUN-FREE ZONE signage, and requires immediate surrender and administrative notification when a concealed pistol license must be revoked after conviction. The bill amends RCW 9.41.300 to expand places where weapon possession is unlawful, requires posting of perimeters and signage, authorizes local provision of locked weapon storage or an official to receive weapons for court-related visits and imposes local liability for loss or damage, prohibits open carry at permitted demonstrations under specified conditions, and allows municipalities to restrict firearm discharge and certain firearm businesses with grandfathering rules. It also amends RCW 10.31.100 to enumerate additional circumstances in which police may arrest without a warrant, including illegal possession of firearms or dangerous weapons on school premises, and limits officer liability for good faith arrests. A new secure-storage requirement for family day care and child care providers requires firearms, ammunition, and other dangerous weapons be inaccessible to children in a locked gun safe or locked room (with unloaded firearms and trigger locks if stored in a locked room); the department may take licensing action for violations. The act includes a provision stating it is necessary for public safety and lists an effective date of July 1, 2025. Important portions of the bill text are missing from the extracted facts: parts of RCW 9.41.282 are cut off, the full amendments to RCW 9.41.300, 10.31.100, and 43.216.760 are not completely shown, the content of the repealed RCW 9.41.251 is not provided, and "the department" referenced for licensing enforcement is not identified in the provided excerpts.

If enacted, the bill tightens where a wide range of weapons may be carried by making it unlawful to knowingly bring firearms, defined dangerous weapons, air guns, stun devices, throwing stars, nunchaku, and spring blade knives onto school grounds, school transportation, and licensed child care center premises, with first offenses treated as misdemeanors (escalating to gross misdemeanors for repeat violations) and specific three‑year concealed pistol license suspensions and surrender requirements on firearm convictions. Schools and child care centers must post "GUN-FREE ZONE" signs; school districts must post notice at board meeting facilities; persons ages 12–21 arrested for firearm violations can be detained up to 72 hours and must be referred within 24 hours to a designated crisis responder; family day care and child care providers must keep firearms and ammunition locked and inaccessible to children (locked safe or locked room with unloaded guns and trigger locks) or face licensing penalties; the secure storage requirement takes effect July 1, 2025. The groups most affected are public and private schools, licensed child care and family day care providers, concealed pistol license holders, youth who bring firearms to school, law enforcement (new arrest authorities and referral duties), local courts (must provide locked boxes or an official to accept weapons during visits and may be liable for loss/damage), and municipalities and firearm retailers (new zoning and venue restrictions with grandfathering). Expect direct costs and responsibilities for posting signs, providing secure storage at child care homes and courthouses, administrative work to revoke and notify licensing authorities, and potential liability exposure for local governments; some details are incomplete in the provided text (for example which specific department enforces child care licensing rules and parts of several sections are missing), so implementation specifics and some enforcement obligations remain unclear.