(1) A person may apply for a permit to purchase firearms with the Washington state patrol firearms background check program.

(2) An applicant for a permit to purchase firearms must submit to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program:

(a) A completed permit application as provided in subsection (3) of this section;

(b) A complete set of fingerprints taken by the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the applicant resides;

(c) A certificate of completion of a certified firearms safety training program within the last five years, or proof that the applicant is exempt from the training requirement, as provided in RCW 9.41.1132; and

(d) The permit application fee as provided in subsection (11) of this section.

(3) An application for a permit to purchase firearms must include the applicant's:

(a) Full name and place and date of birth;

(b) Residential address and current mailing address if different from the residential address;

(c) Driver's license number or state identification card number;

(d) Physical description;

(e) Race and gender;

(f) Telephone number and email address, at the option of the applicant; and

(g) Electronic signature.

(4) The application must contain questions about the applicant's eligibility to possess firearms under state and federal law and whether the applicant is a United States citizen. If the applicant is not a United States citizen, the applicant must provide the applicant's country of citizenship, United States-issued alien number or admission number, and the basis on which the applicant claims to be exempt from federal prohibitions on firearm possession by aliens. The applicant shall not be required to produce a birth certificate or other evidence of citizenship. A person who is not a citizen of the United States shall, if applicable, meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.173 and produce proof of compliance with RCW 9.41.173 upon application.

(5) A signed application for a permit to purchase firearms shall constitute a waiver of confidentiality and written request that courts, the health care authority, mental health institutions, and other health care facilities release information relevant to the applicant's eligibility for a permit to purchase firearms to an inquiring court or the Washington state patrol firearms background check program.

(6) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall issue a permit to purchase firearms to an eligible applicant, or deny the completed application, within 30 days of the date the completed application was filed, or within 60 days of when the completed application was filed if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or Washington state identification card or has not been a resident of the state for the previous consecutive 90 days, unless additional time is necessary in order to obtain all required information and records needed for determining the applicant's eligibility for the permit.

(7)(a) A permit to purchase firearms shall be issued unless the applicant is disqualified because the applicant:

(i) Is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under state or federal law;

(ii) Is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms issued pursuant to chapter 7.105, 9A.40, 9A.44, 9A.46, 9A.88, 10.99, 26.09, 26.26B, or 26.26A RCW, or any of the former chapters 10.14, 26.10, and 26.50 RCW;

(iii) Has an outstanding warrant for the applicant's arrest from any court of competent jurisdiction for a felony or misdemeanor making a person ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040; or

(iv) Has failed to produce a certificate of completion of a certified firearms safety training program within the last five years, or proof that the applicant is exempt from the training requirement.

(b) If an application for a permit to purchase firearms is denied, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall send the applicant a written notice of the denial stating the specific grounds on which the permit to purchase firearms is denied. If the applicant provides an email address at the time of application, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program may send the denial notice to the applicant's email address.

(8)(a) In determining whether the applicant is eligible for a permit to purchase firearms, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall check with the national instant criminal background check system, the Washington state patrol electronic database, the health care authority electronic database, the administrative office of the courts, LInX-NW, and with other agencies or resources as appropriate.

(b) A background check for an original permit must be conducted through the Washington state patrol criminal records division and shall include a national check from the federal bureau of investigation through the submission of fingerprints. The results will be returned to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program. The applicant may request and receive a copy of the results of the background check from the Washington state patrol. If the applicant seeks to amend or correct their record, the applicant must contact the Washington state patrol for a Washington state record or the federal bureau of investigation for records from other jurisdictions.

(9) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall develop procedures to verify on an annual basis that persons who have been issued a permit to purchase firearms remain eligible to possess firearms under state and federal law and continue to meet other firearm eligibility requirements. If a person is determined to be ineligible, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall revoke the permit under subsection (14) of this section, and provide notification of the revocation and relevant information to the chief of police or the sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the permit holder resides so that local law enforcement may take steps to ensure the permit holder is not illegally in possession of firearms.

(10) The permit to purchase firearms must be in a form prescribed by the Washington state patrol firearms background check program and must contain a unique permit number, expiration date, and the name, date of birth, residential address, and brief description of the licensee.

(11)(a) A permit to purchase firearms is valid for a period of five years. A person may renew a permit to purchase firearms by applying for renewal in accordance with the requirements of this section within 90 days before or after the expiration date of the permit. A renewed permit to purchase firearms takes effect on the expiration date of the prior permit to purchase firearms and is valid for a period of five years.

(b)(i) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program may charge permit application fees which will cover as nearly as practicable the direct and indirect costs to the Washington state patrol incurred in creating and administering the permit to purchase firearms program. The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall establish a late penalty for late renewal of a permit to purchase firearms. The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall transmit the fees collected to the state treasurer for deposit in the state firearms background check system account created in RCW 43.43.590.

(ii) In addition to the permit application fee, an applicant for a permit to purchase firearms must pay the fingerprint processing fee under RCW 43.43.742.

(12) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall mail a renewal notice to the holder of a permit to purchase firearms approximately 90 days before the expiration date of the permit at the address listed on the application, or to the permit holder's new address if the permit holder has notified the Washington state patrol firearms background check program of a change of address. If the permit holder provides an email address at the time of application, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program may send the renewal notice to the permit holder's email address. The notice must contain the date the permit to purchase firearms will expire, the amount of the renewal fee, the penalty for late renewal, and instructions on how to renew the permit to purchase firearms.

(13) A permit to purchase firearms issued under this section does not authorize the holder of the permit to carry a concealed pistol.

(14) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall revoke a permit to purchase firearms on the occurrence of any act or condition that would prevent the issuance of a permit to purchase firearms. The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall send the permit holder a written notice of the revocation stating the specific grounds on which the permit is revoked.

(15) If a permit application is denied or a permit is revoked, a person aggrieved by the denial or revocation is entitled to seek relief of the denial or revocation in superior court pursuant to RCW 9.41.0975.

(16) Not later than one year after May 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall submit to the state legislature a report that includes all of the following information for the preceding year:

(a) The number of permit applications submitted, issued, and denied;

(b) Aggregate and anonymized demographic data on the number of applicants seeking permits that were issued, including race, gender, date of birth, and county of residence;

(c) Aggregate and anonymized demographic data on the number of applicants seeking permits that were denied, including race, gender, date of birth, and county of residence;

(d) The frequency with which permits were denied for each of the statutory disqualifying factors listed in this section;

(e) The number of permit denial decisions appealed by permit applicants and the disposition of those appeals;

(f) The number of issued permits revoked; and

(g) The number of cases that the Washington state patrol has provided notice of permit revocations and relevant information to local law enforcement agencies, and the number of cases that local law enforcement agencies have taken action to remove firearms purchased with a permit that was subsequently revoked and the number of firearms recovered in such cases.

Application—2025 c 370 ss 2, 4, and 5: "The Washington state patrol may adopt rules and undertake actions necessary for the implementation and administration of sections 2, 4, and 5 of this act." [ 2025 c 370 s 6.]

Effective date—2025 c 370: See note following RCW 9.41.090.