SB 6286 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning the state's ability to fine private detention facilities that deny entry to the department of health for an inspection.

SB 6286 requires private detention facilities in Washington to allow state health department inspections or face escalating daily fines: $1,000 for the first 30 days, $10,000 for the next 30 days, and $15,000 daily after 60 days of denial. The fines fund a new "enforcement accountability and community repair account" in the state treasury. Money from this account must be used for direct assistance to individuals harmed at private detention facilities - such as housing, legal aid, food, or compensation - after court release or during facility transfer. The bill specifically targets facilities denying health inspections, not government-run facilities, and creates no new legal entitlements for recipients.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its status as a substitute version, shifting the sponsor credit to the Senate Human Services committee and adjusting the reading date. The core policy regarding fines for private detention facilities that block health inspections was modified to explicitly state that blocking entry constitutes a violation of the chapter, clarifying the legal basis for penalties. Additionally, the fund created from these fines was renamed to remove the word 'federal,' and the list of eligible victims was expanded to include individuals assaulted or killed at the facility or while being transported to it.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified by explicitly defining the act of denying inspection as a violation of the chapter, and the scope of the compensation fund was broadened to cover victims assaulted or killed at the facility or during transport.

ENFORCEMENT

Added language stating that preventing inspection is a violation of the chapter, strengthening the legal basis for imposing fines.

TIMELINE

Clarified that fine tiers are triggered by specific elapsed days from the department's initial attempt to inspect, rather than just the duration of the denial.

FISCAL

Renamed the 'federal enforcement accountability and community repair account' to the 'enforcement accountability and community repair account' to remove the reference to federal authority.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the fund's eligibility to include individuals who were assaulted or killed at a private detention facility or while being taken to one.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect it is a substitute bill sponsored by the Senate Human Services committee with a new reading date.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 5:45 PM.

upper

1 primary · 15 co-sponsors