S-3903.1
SENATE BILL 6153
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Senators Bateman, Alvarado, Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Nobles, Trudeau, Valdez, and C. Wilson
Read first time 01/15/26. Referred to Committee on Housing.
AN ACT Relating to senior independent housing protections; adding a new section to chapter 59.18 RCW; and adding a new chapter to Title 59 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that many Washingtonians over 55 years of age choose to live in communities specifically designed for, and marketed to, seniors who wish to live independently in a community of their peers. These senior independent living housing options are often composed of renters or individuals entering into long-term contracts, such as in continuing care retirement communities. As such, residents of these communities are unable to reasonably move should they have a conflict with management.
The legislature finds these seniors do not have access to ombuds services because the long-term care ombuds do not have jurisdiction over senior independent living. As such, the legislature will create senior independent living ombuds who will track data on the types of complaints and identified resolutions and specialize in landlord-tenant and consumer protection advocacy to assist seniors living in these kinds of housing arrangements with issues that may arise.