WA HB1240

Establishes new legal protections for "vehicle residences" (vehicles used as homes), preventing them from being sold at public auction or retained by tow operators for unpaid charges, and requiring a 90-day waiting period before such vehicles can be considered abandoned

Requires courts to hold impound hearings within 2 business days when the vehicle is still held by the operator, and mandates courts reduce impound fees found to be excessive based on the individual's ability to pay and effect on livelihood

Shifts storage cost responsibility to state or local government when they authorize an impound, and stops additional storage costs from accruing for vehicle residences once a hearing is requested or the resident notifies the operator

Expands who may redeem an impounded vehicle to include anyone authorized by a court after an impound hearing, and allows courts to continue hearings up to 30 days to clarify vehicle ownership disputes

Requires hearing request forms be provided to anyone seeking to redeem a vehicle (regardless of ownership status on record), made available in languages spoken by more than 10% of the county population, and mandates fee waivers for those claiming financial hardship or vehicle residence status