Washington Senate Passes Pet Protection Bill

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The Washington State Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would allow vehicle owners to leave their engines running for up to 30 minutes while unattended if the purpose is to protect a pet from excessive heat or cold. The measure, Substitute Senate Bill 5833, would create an exception to the current law that generally prohibits leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running.

Why it matters

This new legislation aims to address the serious issue of pets being left in vehicles in dangerous temperatures, which can quickly become life-threatening. By allowing owners to keep engines running to power climate control systems, the bill seeks to protect animal welfare while also avoiding potential legal penalties.

The details

Under the proposed law, vehicle owners would be permitted to leave their engines running for up to 30 minutes if the purpose is to provide heating or cooling to prevent harm to an animal inside the vehicle. Current state law already makes it a civil infraction to leave an animal unattended in a vehicle if it could be harmed by heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or water. Law enforcement and animal control officers are authorized to enter a vehicle to remove an animal believed to be at risk.

• The Washington State Senate passed Substitute Senate Bill 5833 on February 11, 2026.
• The bill would take effect 90 days after adjournment of the legislative session if enacted into law.

What’s next

The bill will now move to the Washington State House of Representatives for consideration.