H-3072.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2244
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By House State Government & Tribal Relations (originally sponsored by Representatives Mena, Reed, Fitzgibbon, Scott, Duerr, Doglio, Gregerson, and Reeves)
READ FIRST TIME 01/22/26.
AN ACT Relating to adopting the recommendations of the public records exemptions accountability committee in its 2025 annual report; amending RCW 43.190.110 , 10.27.160 , 27.53.070 , 46.52.065 , 46.52.080 , 72.05.130 , 21.20.480 , and 43.41.100 ; and repealing RCW 18.46.090 , 24.06.480 , and 26.12.080 .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 43.190.110 and 2013 c 23 s 97 are each amended to read as follows:
(( All records and files of long-term care ombuds relating to any complaint or investigation made pursuant to carrying out their duties and the identities of complainants, witnesses, patients, or residents shall remain confidential unless disclosure is authorized by the patient or resident or his or her guardian or legal representative. No disclosures may be made outside the office without the consent of any named witnesses, resident, patient, client, or complainant unless the disclosure is made without the identity of any of these individuals being disclosed )) The office of the state long-term care ombuds shall establish procedures for disclosure pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 3058g(d). Such procedures shall provide for exercising discretion in favor of disclosure to the maximum extent consistent with federal law and the policies of chapter 42.56 RCW .