S-1261.1
SENATE BILL 5713
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Senator Fortunato
AN ACT Relating to chemical abortion; amending RCW 9.02.120 ; reenacting and amending RCW 9.02.170 ; adding new sections to chapter 9.02 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9.02 RCW to read as follows:
(1) In every civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding or action brought under this act, the court shall rule whether the anonymity of any patient upon whom an abortion has been performed or attempted shall be preserved from public disclosure if the patient does not consent to such disclosure. The court, upon motion or sua sponte, shall make such a ruling and, upon determining that the patient's anonymity should be preserved, shall issue orders to the parties, witnesses, and counsel and shall direct the sealing of the record and exclusion of individuals from courtrooms or hearing rooms to the extent necessary to safeguard the patient's identity from public disclosure.
(2) Each such order shall be accompanied by specific written findings explaining why the anonymity of the patient should be preserved from public disclosure, why the order is essential to that end, how the order is narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and why no reasonable less restrictive alternative exists.