The bill creates a new Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act as a new chapter in Title 4 RCW (sections 1–12) and amends RCW 19.16.260. It establishes procedural and substantive prerequisites that must be met before a default judgment may be entered in certain consumer debt collection actions, including a required consumer notice (minimum 10‑point type), specific factual allegations in the complaint, and documentary attachments demonstrating the debt and chain of ownership when applicable. The complaint must include, among other items, the consumer’s name and last known contact details in creditor records, creditor identity, at least the last four digits of the account number, dates (last payment/transaction, charge off or default, itemization date), outstanding balance and the amount of judgment sought with an itemization of finance charges, fees, credits, and disclosures required when the debt was purchased. Attachments must include at least one of specified records (signed agreement, most recent monthly statement, or other record) and, for purchased debt, writings evidencing assignment(s) to establish an unbroken chain of ownership; attachments are subject to authentication under rule 803(a)(6) and RCW 5.45.020 or other law. The act makes multiple procedural changes and penalties: courts may deny motions for default or default judgment for noncompliance and may give plaintiffs 30 days to file a compliant amended complaint or dismiss without prejudice; a plaintiff who amends a complaint before a responsive pleading voids the court’s personal jurisdiction until the amended complaint is served as an original complaint. Acts or practices in violation of this chapter by holders of purchased debt or their affiliates while attempting to collect purchased debt are declared unfair practices under the Consumer Protection Act (chapter 19.86 RCW) and subject those persons to the penalty in RCW 19.16.450. The chapter voids consumer waivers of its requirements (but does not prohibit voluntary settlements or judgments that are not default judgments), includes a severability clause, and generally supplements other consumer remedies. The act modifies, limits, or supersedes parts of the federal E‑Sign Act but does not affect 15 U.S.C. §7001(c) and does not authorize electronic delivery of certain federal notices. The amendment to RCW 19.16.260 requires collection agencies and out‑of‑state collection agencies to allege and prove they are duly licensed and bonded when bringing or maintaining collection actions in Washington, although proof is not required when a judgment is to be entered by default; a copy of a current license is prima facie evidence of licensing and bonding. The act takes effect January 1, 2027 and applies to actions commenced on or after its effective date. The extracted text omits the complete model consumer notice, the full amendment language of RCW 19.16.260 as revised, and the specific new chapter number within Title 4 RCW.

If enacted, starting January 1, 2027 the law will make it harder for creditors, debt buyers, and collection agencies to get default judgments in consumer debt cases without giving consumers clearer written warnings and attaching documentary proof of the debt and chain of ownership. Courts will refuse or delay default judgments when the required notice, detailed account information, and records are missing, can give plaintiffs 30 days to fix defects, and may treat violations by debt purchasers or their affiliates as unfair practices subject to Consumer Protection Act penalties. Also, if a plaintiff amends a complaint before a defendant answers, the court’s earlier jurisdiction is void until the amended complaint is re-served, which can add delay and cost. The people most affected are consumers sued for debt, who will likely see better notice of risks and more chances to defend, and creditors, debt buyers, and collection agencies, who will face higher upfront documentation and disclosure duties, more opportunities for cases to be dismissed or delayed, potential enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act, and added costs for service and proving licensing or bonding in many cases. Some details that matter for implementation—such as the complete model notice text and some definitions and procedural specifics in the act’s sections—are not fully shown here, so exact evidentiary standards and the full scope of required disclosures are unclear.