The mission of the Washington Association for Substance Misuse And Violence Prevention (WASAVP) is to unite prevention advocates in Washington State to create safe and healthy communities through prevention of substance misuse and violence.
Prevention First! for Safe and Healthy Communities.
The Difference Between Bills, Laws, and Rules
What is a bill?
A bill is an idea for a new law or a change to an existing law, introduced by a representative or senator. It is discussed, changed, and voted on by the legislature. If both houses approve it and the governor signs it, the bill becomes law.
Bills get a number to show which house introduced them.
For example:
* HB 1449 is a House bill from 2025
about home cannabis grows.
* SB 5067 is a Senate bill about
lowering the legal blood alcohol
limit for drinking and driving
What is a law?
When a bill passes both houses and the Governor signs it, it becomes a law and changes Washington State’s official laws, called the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
Some bills change just one line of law.
For example, in 2023, one bill replaced the word “marijuana” with “cannabis” throughout the entire RCW - making thousands of changes.
Another example, SB 5786, raises alcohol license fees, and will update and change all of the state laws listed below:
AN ACT Relating to increasing license, permit, and endorsement fees; amending RCW 66.20.010, 66.20.400, 66.24.015, 66.24.035, 66.24.055, 66.24.140, 66.24.146, 66.24.150, 66.24.160, 66.24.165, 66.24.170, 66.24.179, 66.24.185, 66.24.200, 66.24.203, 66.24.240, 66.24.244, 66.24.246, 66.24.248, 66.24.250, 66.24.261, 66.24.310, 66.24.320, 66.24.330,
66.24.350, 66.24.354, 66.24.360, 66.24.363, 66.24.371, 66.24.380, 66.24.395, 66.24.420, 66.24.425, 66.24.450, 66.24.452, 66.24.495, 66.24.520, 66.24.530, 66.24.540, 66.24.550, 66.24.570, 66.24.580, 66.24.590, 66.24.600, 66.24.610, 66.24.630, 66.24.650, 66.24.655, 66.24.690, and 66.24.695; reenacting and amending RCW 66.24.400 and 66.24.680; and adding a new section to chapter 66.08 RCW.
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) has 91 titles.
If you were looking up RCW 66.24.320 (the section highlighted in the list above):
“66” means the Alcohol Beverage Control "title".
“24” means the Licenses and Taxes section.
“320” means beer and wine restaurant licenses.
Revised Code of Washington – Washington State’s Official Set of Laws
What is a rule?
Bills are made by the legislature, but rules are made by state agencies. Rules explain the details of how laws will be followed and enforced.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) controls rules for alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco. They often change many rules each year.
Rule changes for the LCB follow a formal process:
CR 101 – LCB announces which rules might change and asks for public comments.
CR 102 – LCB shares the proposed rule changes and asks for more feedback.
CR 103: After updating the rules with feedback, LCB presents them to the Board for approval.
New rules start 30 days after the Board approves them.
