HB 1604 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Providing parameters for conducting searches of transgender and intersex individuals confined in a local jail in compliance with federal law.

HB 1604 requires Washington state local jails to create policies for searching transgender and intersex individuals confined there, ensuring compliance with federal law. It prohibits searches solely to determine genital status, mandates staff training for respectful searches, and gives individuals options for who conducts searches (e.g., a medical professional, staff of their preferred gender, or staff matching their gender identity). Jails must implement these policies by September 1, 2025, and cross-gender searches are only allowed in true emergencies threatening facility security. The bill directly affects transgender and intersex people in local jails and modifies existing search procedures under state law.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Mar 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated to reflect its final passage by the legislature in 2026, replacing the previous 2025 session draft. The document now includes official certification signatures and enrollment details, confirming the bill has been approved by both the House and Senate.

TECHNICAL

Added certification of enrollment confirming the bill passed the House on February 4, 2026, and the Senate on March 3, 2026.

Updated the legislative session year from 2025 to 2026 to match the final enacted version.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

32–19

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 11, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (32-19)

senate

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

HS - Majority; do pass.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors