This bill amends existing law (RCW 46.70.023) to change and restate requirements for a vehicle dealer’s “established place of business” and related licensing and operational rules. It defines an established place of business as a permanent, enclosed commercial building in Washington that is accessible to the public, complies with building code, zoning and land-use ordinances, has specified signage, and maintains books, records, and files at that location. The amendment restricts where dealers may display vehicles (only at the established place of business, licensed subagency, or temporary subagency except at auction), allows delivery of vehicles for inspection or test drives and internet or off-site signing of agreements, and requires dealers to advise the department of all business locations and names and to post their license conspicuously. The bill imposes procedural and licensing requirements for auction companies, subagencies, temporary subagencies, wholesale and retail dealers, and mobile home dealers. Auction companies that do not own inventory are exempt from the established place requirement but must maintain in-state office facilities, keep records there, list storage facilities with the department, ensure zoning compliance, maintain telecommunications, post their dealer license at each auction, and provide the auction address to the department at least three days before the auction. Subagencies generally must meet established place requirements (with some recordkeeping exceptions), temporary subagencies must meet local codes and post the dealer license, and mobile home dealers have specified on-site display exceptions. The bill also limits how many dealer businesses may share one location, sets a transition rule allowing shared locations until July 1, 2026 with a one-time license renewal thereafter, requires dealers to maintain ownership or leasehold throughout the license year and notify the department within 10 days of changes, and authorizes a personal representative to continue a deceased or incapacitated individual dealer’s business for six months subject to fees. Several terms and the specific agency referred to as “the department” are used but are not defined in this excerpt, and the bill references a rulemaking exception and other statutory sections that are not included here. This summary is limited to the single-section amendment provided; definitions and other related provisions may appear elsewhere in the chapter and are not included in the extracted text.

If enacted, most vehicle dealers will need to operate out of a permanent, enclosed commercial building that complies with local building, zoning, and land‑use rules, posts a permanent exterior sign, keeps necessary books and files at that location, and maintains proof of ownership or lease for the license year. Dealers may only display vehicles for sale at their established place of business, licensed subagency, or temporary subagency (except at auctions), and dealers that share a location will face tighter limits: no more than two dealer businesses may share a location after a one-time renewal opportunity that ends July 1, 2026. Mobile home dealers, auction companies, and wholesale dealers face distinct rules: auction companies must keep in‑state offices, list and ensure compliance of storage sites, maintain telecommunications, post their license at auctions, and give the department auction addresses three days ahead; some mobile home display exceptions apply if sales are handled from a principal place of business. Retail, wholesale and mobile home dealers, auction operators, and any dealers sharing premises are most affected; they will likely face higher real estate and compliance costs (upgrading or securing compliant commercial space, clear signage, segregated records/inventory where spaces are shared), increased administrative duties (more frequent notifications to the licensing department, listing storage sites, posting licenses, and meeting temporary subagency zoning rules), and reduced flexibility to co‑locate with multiple other dealer businesses. The text does not identify which specific state department oversees these duties, and several terms and the promised rulemaking for subagency exceptions are not defined here, leaving some implementation details unclear.