Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses.

HB 2493 expands rights and support for survivors of sexual violence, including those affected by female genital mutilation (FGM), in Washington state. It amends statutes to require courts to appoint representatives for defendants representing themselves in sexual assault cases to question victims, and allows minors aged 13+ to consent to forensic exams for strangulation-related domestic violence. The bill also broadens definitions of sexual assault, mandates trauma-sensitive victim services, and guarantees survivors access to medical exams, advocates, and updates on case progress. These changes directly affect survivors, law enforcement, courts, and community sexual assault programs by embedding victim-centered approaches into legal procedures.