This bill establishes a firewall to prevent Washington state agencies from sharing driver, vehicle, and personal information with federal immigration authorities for civil immigration enforcement purposes. It requires state departments to only disclose such data when a valid court order is issued and mandates notification to individuals within three days when their information is requested. The legislation also requires data-sharing agreements to include certifications that information will not be used for civil immigration enforcement, along with ongoing monitoring and termination of access if misuse is detected. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports on data queries and public meetings to discuss compliance and statistics regarding information access.
This bill establishes a credentialing program for spoken language interpreters in Washington state courts, requiring the administrative office of the courts to create testing standards, offer training programs across eastern and western Washington, and maintain a list of qualified interpreters. It also modifies procedures for protection order hearings by prioritizing emergency cases, limiting discovery requests, and restricting the admissibility of evidence regarding a petitioner's prior sexual activity. The legislation aims to ensure fair and efficient judicial processes for victims seeking protection orders while maintaining high standards for interpreter qualifications in court proceedings.
This bill modifies Washington State's rules for when incarcerated individuals can leave prison for medical reasons. It allows the Department of Corrections to authorize extraordinary medical placement for inmates who have permanent or degenerative conditions, are expected to die within six months, or have serious medical needs that cannot be met in prison, provided they are assessed as low risk and the move would save state money. The bill excludes death row inmates, those sentenced to life without parole, and persistent offenders from this program. It also requires electronic monitoring for those granted medical placement unless it would harm their health or interfere with medical equipment.
This bill amends Washington state laws related to child abuse and neglect definitions and procedures, though it is titled "Concerning coaches of youth sports organizations." The legislation updates legal definitions for terms like "child," "child protective services," and "family assessment response" to clarify how child welfare cases are handled. It establishes specific criteria for determining when a child is at risk of entering foster care and outlines protocols for child forensic interviews conducted in supportive environments like children's advocacy centers. The bill aims to improve consistency in how child abuse reports are investigated and responded to by state agencies, without changing the core requirement for youth sports coaches to undergo background checks.
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HB 2731 prohibits local governments in Washington from banning cannabis businesses by banning ordinances, regulations, or land use plans that would prevent licensed producers, processors, or retailers from operating in their jurisdictions. The bill also expands the state's social equity program for cannabis licenses, requiring that at least 51% of ownership in new licenses meets specific criteria (e.g., living in a historically impacted area, having a cannabis-related arrest, or meeting income thresholds). It sets aside additional licenses for social equity applicants and mandates a scoring system to prioritize them. This law directly affects local governments (by removing their ban authority), cannabis businesses (by expanding operational areas), and social equity applicants (by creating priority access to new licenses).
HB 2729, the Retail Theft Accountability Act, mandates a minimum 30-day jail sentence (up to 364 days) and up to $5,000 in fines for repeat offenders convicted of specific property crimes like third-degree theft or possessing stolen goods within two years. It directly affects repeat offenders (18+ with two prior convictions) and aims to protect retail businesses - especially essential stores like grocery and pharmacy outlets - that face closures due to theft. The bill allows courts to offer court-supervised diversion programs (e.g., treatment, job support) instead of jail if participants complete them successfully; failure to complete results in the mandatory sentence. This law takes effect July 1, 2026, to address community safety concerns tied to unsustainable theft losses.
HB 2713 would impose a 1% surcharge on the taxable income from operating private detention facilities in Washington State, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects operators of such facilities that generate over $1 million in annual Washington gross receipts. The surcharge applies to the portion of income specifically tied to running these facilities, in addition to existing business taxes. This policy change would increase tax obligations for qualifying private detention facility operators without altering the definition of the facilities themselves.
SB 6109 prohibits Washington State's Investment Board from investing state funds in private detention facilities. Starting immediately, the Board cannot make new investments in entities owning or operating such facilities, and must fully divest existing investments by January 1, 2030. The bill requires this transition to avoid financial loss by reinvesting in comparable, productive alternatives. It directly affects state pension and retirement funds managed by the Investment Board, targeting for-profit facilities operating under government contracts.
SB 6133 expands Washington State's Address Confidentiality Program to include administrative law judges and staff employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings. This bill amends state law to allow these workers to apply for the program if they face threats or harassment, joining existing categories like domestic violence survivors and election officials. Eligible applicants must provide sworn statements about safety concerns and designate the Secretary of State as their agent for mail and legal service. The program protects their actual address by using a confidential mailing address for official purposes, with the Secretary of State forwarding mail and updating vehicle registration records.
SB 6002 limits how Washington state and local agencies can use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, which track vehicle movements. It requires agencies to register ALPR systems with the attorney general and maintain detailed records of all system access (like who used it and why), while prohibiting use for immigration enforcement, in healthcare facilities, schools, or places of worship. Agencies may only use ALPRs for specific purposes, such as checking against stolen vehicle lists, missing persons databases, or parking enforcement. The law aims to balance public safety with privacy by restricting data collection and ensuring transparency in how license plate data is accessed and stored.
