The bill creates new statutory driver training education requirements for persons obtaining an initial Washington driver’s license and modifies existing licensing statutes. It adds a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW establishing phased-in training requirements for initial licenses for people who are at least 18 and under specified ages (phased from Jan 1, 2027 through Jan 1, 2033). It authorizes three types of approved training (school-district or approved private school courses under RCW 28A.220.020, department-approved licensed driver training school courses, or a department-defined online self‑paced course), requires specified behind‑the‑wheel hours (including additional hours for online course completers), provides an alternative condensed course pathway for ages 22–24 (phased 2031–2033), requires motorcycle endorsement applicants to complete a department‑standard safety course, and authorizes the Department of Licensing to grant waivers and adopt rules. The bill also amends RCW 46.20.100 (applications by persons under 18) to add the online option and align behind‑the‑wheel and waiver provisions, and amends RCW 46.20.181 to specify license expiration/renewal periods, fees ($72 standard renewal, $9 per year for non‑eight‑year issuances), and a $10 late penalty under stated exceptions. The bill makes multiple programmatic and funding changes. It requires the Department of Licensing to establish instructor training and certification expansion programs (subject to transportation appropriations) and to create a voucher program, starting Jan 1, 2027 subject to funding, to cover average driver training costs for low‑income novice drivers, with rules, eligibility requirements, reporting, and privacy protections for applicant income data. It requires tribal partnership youth driver education programs (beginning July 1, 2026 subject to appropriations), allows the department to require a refresher course at first renewal for those licensed under the new section, adjusts examination and instruction permit fees (new license exam and permit fees increase Jan 1, 2026), authorizes driver training schools and school districts to administer parts of the licensing exam, and directs portions of specified fees and revenues into a new driver education safety improvement account created in section 16 for use only by appropriation to expand and improve driver education programs. The bill also reenacts and amends RCW 43.84.092 to establish a treasury income account and specify monthly earnings distributions and related procedures. The bill adds a temporary program for speed safety camera systems in state highway work zones with operational, notice, adjudication, privacy, and penalty rules: DOT operates camera systems, the Washington State Patrol handles enforcement and adjudication, notices and contest procedures use the Office of Administrative Hearings, images may capture only vehicles and plates (not faces), sites must be signed, a public awareness campaign is required, and penalties are $0 for a first camera‑detected violation and $248 for the second and subsequent violations. Revenues first pay operating costs and any excess transfers to the driver education safety improvement account. The speed camera section expires June 30, 2030; DOT must report to the legislature starting July 1, 2025 and a final report by July 1, 2029 must recommend whether to continue use beyond June 30, 2030. Several provisions and detail are missing or truncated in the provided text (including full fee provisions for hazardous materials endorsements, the complete text of section 16 creating the driver education safety improvement account, some cross‑referenced RCW amendments, and an unclear date referenced as “1, 2025”), so certain implementation details and precise allocations cannot be fully described from the extracted facts alone.

If enacted, the law will require most new drivers aged 18 through 24 to complete approved driver training before getting an initial Washington license on a phased schedule from 2027–2033, with three approved delivery options (school-based, licensed driver training schools, or a department-defined online self‑paced course), extra behind‑the‑wheel time for online learners, and a later condensed option for some 22–24 year olds; the Department of Licensing (with OSPI) gets new rulemaking, waiver, reporting, and pause authority, may require a refresher course at first renewal, and must stand up instructor training, a low‑income voucher program (starting Jan. 1, 2027 subject to appropriations), and tribal partnership programs, so driver training schools, school districts, and prospective novice drivers (especially low‑income and rural/tribal communities) will likely face increased demand for courses, need to hire or certify more instructors, and may benefit from vouchers but only if appropriations and program capacity materialize. The bill also creates a driver education safety improvement account that will be funded by specified portions of exam, permit, license service fees, and excess revenue from a new DOT speed‑camera program in highway work zones (camera fines must cover program costs first; second and subsequent camera fines are $248), and it reenacts treasury distribution rules directing monthly earnings to many accounts including the new education account; agencies that will bear new costs or responsibilities include the Department of Licensing, DOT, Washington State Patrol, OSPI, county licensing partners, and OFM/state treasurer, while key uncertainties remain about exact appropriation amounts, the contents of section 16 creating the account, some truncated fee allocation details, and several missing dates that affect how quickly the programs and funding will take effect.