Washington Law Limits Private Listing Networks For Homes

Beginning in early June, real estate professionals in Washington state must publicly market their residential real estate listings to all consumers, unless the seller can show doing so would negatively impact their health or safety. This requirement comes after Washington Governor Bob Furgeson signed a bill into law on Monday banning exclusive marketing to select groups of buyers. 

Formerly known as Senate Bill 6091, the bill amends a section to the state’s real estate brokerage law that requires for sale properties to be marketed broadly to the general public. However, the law does not require sellers to allow prospective buyers into their home. 

“A broker may not market the sale or lease of residential real estate to a limited or exclusive group of prospective buyers or brokers, or any combination thereof, unless the real estate is concurrently marketed to the general public and all other brokers, except as reasonably necessary to protect the health or safety of the owner or occupant,” the new law states. 

The bill was first introduced in January of 2026 and it was sponsored by State Senators Marko Liias (D), Chris Gildon (R), Jessica Bateman (D), Emily Alvarado (D) and John Braun (R). Washington Realtors came out in support of the bill, telling HousingWire via email that the organization is committed to advocating for bills and policies that support the association’s members and their clients. 

“The intent of the proposed legislation is to promote transparency, fairness and equal access in the residential real estate market by requiring all listings to be marketed publicly and be available to all brokers,” a Washington Realtors’ spokesperson wrote in an email in January. “Our top public policy priority has consistently been to build communities that have a strong economy and attractive, affordable home choices – our North Star for our advocacy efforts is making Washington the most consumer-friendly state in which to buy and sell real property. Washington Realtors is supporting this bill because it’s another step toward that goal.”

The association did not immediately respond to HousingWire’s request for comment on the bill being signed into law.

Washington’s new law is not the only attempt by lawmakers to regulate brokers and sellers’ usage of private listing networks, as similar bills are pending in Illinois, Connecticut and Hawaii. However, these bills also allow sellers to opt out of the public marketing of their listing by signing disclosures acknowledging that this choice may negatively impact the sale of their home.

Additionally, in December of 2025, Wisconsin Governor Anthony Evers signed a bill into law making the public marketing of a property is the accepted default. The law is slated to go into effect on January 1, 2027. According to the law, which reflects many aspects of the National Association of Realtors’s (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP), a property listed by a licensed real estate professional must be marketed broadly online within one business day of the listing agreement unless the seller affirmatively opts out by completing and signing a disclosure and opt-out form created by the state’s Department of Real Estate.