Concerning sharing and protection of tribal data.

HB 2685 establishes tribal data sovereignty principles for Washington state agencies handling health data. It requires state agencies to share tribal data (defined as information specific to tribes or their members) in ways that respect tribal ownership and control, including obtaining informed consent for data use and providing tribes equal access to state health data. The bill mandates that agencies include these principles in data-sharing agreements, consult with tribal advisory councils, and exempt tribal data from public disclosure under state law. This directly affects state health agencies, local health jurisdictions, and federally recognized tribes in Washington by ensuring tribal sovereignty over their data.