SEATTLE, WA – A new Washington state law now requires licensed firearms dealers to submit annual reports to the Attorney General’s Office detailing all firearm trace requests received from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The reporting requirement, part of legislation passed in 2024 (ESHB 2118), applies to dealers averaging more than $1,000 per month in firearm sales. Reports must be submitted by March 15 each year and include the number of trace requests, the make and model of each firearm involved, the date of sale, any inspections by the ATF, and any violation notices or letters received from the agency. Dealers must also certify compliance in writing under penalty of perjury.
The law took effect July 1, 2025.
Firearm tracing, conducted by the ATF’s National Tracing Center, is used by law enforcement agencies to track the origin and ownership history of firearms as part of criminal investigations.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the reporting requirement is intended to provide greater insight into the volume of trace requests and may support future investigations.