SB 6131 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Updating the role of the Washington traffic safety commission in identifying the risk factors that lead to roadway fatalities.

This bill updates the Washington Traffic Safety Commission's role to focus on identifying contributing factors that lead to roadway fatalities and serious injuries. It amends existing laws to clarify that information from traffic fatality reviews is confidential and exempt from public disclosure, protecting sensitive data used in safety investigations. The legislation also adds new definitions for key terms like "bicyclist fatality," "pedestrian fatality," and "serious injury" to ensure consistent understanding across the commission's work. Additionally, the bill expands the commission's authority to operate as a public health authority while maintaining confidentiality for specific health-related records involved in traffic safety reviews.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Washington Traffic Safety Commission's role from identifying 'risk factors' to 'contributing factors' in traffic fatalities, aligning the language with public health standards. It reclassifies the commission as a 'public health authority' and expands its ability to collect and share health data with the University of Washington for research purposes. The bill also strengthens privacy protections for confidential information and clarifies the immunity of commission members against civil lawsuits.

Scope change

The bill expands the commission's scope by explicitly defining it as a public health authority and broadening the types of data it can analyze and share for research, while simultaneously tightening privacy rules for sensitive records.

DEFINITION

Changed the commission's purpose from identifying 'risk factors' to 'contributing factors' to better align with public health methodologies.

Added a new definition for 'public health authority' to formally establish the commission's legal status under federal regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Authorized the commission to share anonymized health data and underlying records with the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation for research.

Expanded privacy protections by prohibiting the disclosure of any information that could allow the public to identify individuals when combined with other public sources.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the immunity clause to clarify that commission members lose their protection from civil lawsuits if they act in bad faith by disclosing confidential information.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors