H-2735.1
HOUSE BILL 2356
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Paul, Burnett, and Shavers
Prefiled 01/09/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations.
AN ACT Relating to public records concerning homicide cases; and amending RCW 42.56.540 .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 42.56.540 and 1992 c 139 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The examination of any specific public record may be enjoined if, upon motion and affidavit by an agency or its representative (( or )) , a person who is named in the record or to whom the record specifically pertains , or a person described in subsection (2) of this section , the superior court for the county in which the movant resides or in which the record is maintained, finds that such examination would clearly not be in the public interest and would substantially and irreparably damage any person, or would substantially and irreparably damage vital governmental functions. An agency has the option of notifying persons named in the record or to whom a record specifically pertains or a person described in subsection (2) of this section , that release of a record has been requested. However, this option does not exist where the agency is required by law to provide such notice.