Technology

signed · Washington · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2225: Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

This Washington bill requires AI companion chatbots that simulate human relationships to clearly disclose they are artificial at the start of use, every three hours, and at new sessions. For minors (under 18), it mandates hourly reminders about the artificial nature of the chatbot, blocks sexually explicit content, and prohibits manipulative tactics like fake emotional distress or excessive praise to foster dependency. It excludes customer service bots, in-game assistants, and educational tools from these rules. The law aims to prevent emotional dependency and ensure psychological safety while allowing responsible AI development.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI chatbot disclosure of artificial nature and restricts manipulative tactics for user protection, aligning with consumer privacy regulations in tech policy.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1170: Informing users when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence.

HB 1170 requires large artificial intelligence providers (with over 1 million monthly users) to disclose when content they generate is AI-made. It mandates two types of disclosures: clear, visible labels ("manifest") and hidden metadata ("latent") identifying the AI system, creator, and timestamp. The bill also requires free, accessible AI detection tools for users to verify content origin, while prohibiting providers from collecting personal data through these tools. Excluded are video games, movies, and streaming content, focusing the rule on generative AI services like text or image tools.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI content disclosure and privacy protections, aligning with data privacy and consumer protection indicators in tech regulation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2274: Modifying the Washington commercial electronic mail act.

HB 2274 modifies Washington's law regulating commercial email by prohibiting senders from using unauthorized third-party domains to hide email origins or including false/misleading subject lines about the email's commercial nature. It directly affects businesses sending commercial emails to Washington residents, requiring them to accurately identify their email source and subject line content. The bill establishes $500 in damages (or actual losses) for individual recipients and $1,000 for internet service providers harmed by violations. These changes apply retroactively to ongoing cases but take effect prospectively for future violations.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits deceptive email practices (false subject lines, hidden origins) to protect consumer privacy under data privacy regulations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 5690: Concerning utility relocation.

Senate Bill 5690 directs the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) to proactively coordinate with broadband and utility owners regarding planned state highway projects to facilitate the installation of broadband infrastructure. The bill allows the DOT to install broadband conduit during road construction if owners are unable, aiming to reduce future traffic impacts and support telework. It also requires the DOT to provide utility owners with advance notice for state fish barrier removal projects. The DOT is encouraged to seek federal funding for utility relocation costs associated with these projects and must report on its federal funding efforts and recommendations by December 15, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFacilitates broadband infrastructure installation during highway projects to expand internet access and support telework, directly advancing technology infrastructure deployment.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill directs DOT to coordinate broadband installation during highway projects, reducing future traffic impacts and improving infrastructure efficiency for transportation projects.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 6106: Modifying the securing timely notification and benefits for laid-off employees act. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning the laid-off employees act.)

SB 6106 updates Washington’s law on notifying laid-off employees by excluding Indian tribes from the definition of "employer," meaning tribal employers will no longer be subject to the law’s notice and benefit requirements. It also adds a new exemption protecting employee names and addresses from public disclosure under the state’s open records law. These changes amend specific sections of Washington law (RCW 49.45.010 and RCW 42.56.230) to clarify who must comply and strengthen privacy safeguards for affected workers. The bill directly impacts tribal employers (no longer covered) and all employees whose personal information is now shielded from public access in employment records.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes tribal employers from layoff notice/benefit requirements, reducing worker protections under the law.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAdds exemption protecting employee names/addresses from public disclosure, strengthening data privacy under RCW 42.56.230, aligning with data privacy indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5834: Concerning payment of expenses from the earnings of retirement system trust funds.

SB 5834 allows Washington state retirement systems (including public employees', teachers', law enforcement, and judicial systems) to pay certain protective expenses from their trust fund interest earnings. It specifically permits covering legal costs (like court fees and expert witnesses), medical exams for members, and administrative expenses (such as audits, cybersecurity, and fraud investigations) that directly protect the retirement funds. The bill requires that any recovered funds from fraud investigations or overpayment collections be returned to the trust funds. This change streamlines how systems manage operational costs tied to safeguarding retirement assets, without affecting benefit payments.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly permits cybersecurity expenses as allowable administrative costs for retirement systems, directly funding tech security measures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5886: Concerning forged digital likenesses.

Washington State's SB 5886 establishes a property right in an individual's name, voice, signature, photograph, and "forged digital likeness" that survives death. It defines a "forged digital likeness" as a digitally altered image or audio that misrepresents a person and could deceive others into believing it is genuine. The law requires written or oral consent for using these rights in commercial goods, advertising, or fundraising - applying to businesses, nonprofits, and organizations regardless of profit motive. This directly affects creators of digital content, advertisers, and fundraisers who might use AI-generated representations of living or deceased individuals (including those with commercial value to their likeness) without permission.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects digital identity rights by requiring consent for commercial use of likenesses, enhancing data privacy and digital rights safeguards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5937: Concerning the use of a smart access system in a residential property subject to the residential landlord-tenant act.

SB 5937 defines key terms related to smart access systems in rental properties under Washington's landlord-tenant law. It specifically clarifies "authentication data" (data used for entry via smart systems) and "biometric identifier information" (like fingerprints or facial scans) to ensure transparency. The bill directly affects landlords who use smart access systems, requiring them to handle biometric data according to these defined terms. This is a definitional amendment, not a new policy, to align existing law with modern access technologies. It does not impose new requirements but establishes clear language for how such systems are regulated.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyDefines biometric data handling standards for smart access systems, requiring transparency in residential landlord-tenant contexts, aligning with data privacy protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6070: Supporting the recovery of missing persons.

Washington State's SB 6070 requires law enforcement to obtain a court order before using certain surveillance tools - including pen registers, trap and trace devices, and cell site simulators (devices that mimic cell towers) - to locate missing endangered persons. The bill amends existing laws to specify that these tools may only be deployed when investigating a missing person who qualifies as "endangered" under state law. Courts must approve such orders based on probable cause that the tools will help locate the missing person or gather evidence related to their disappearance. This law directly affects law enforcement agencies conducting missing persons investigations and ensures judicial oversight for these intrusive surveillance methods.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires judicial oversight for surveillance tools in missing persons cases, enhancing police accountability and civil rights protections per bill's court order mandate.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill requires court orders for surveillance tools (e.g., cell site simulators) to protect privacy of missing persons, directly advancing data privacy (core technology topic).90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6222: Supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware.

SB 6222 allows Washington school districts to prioritize distributing surplus technology hardware (like laptops and tablets) to public school students, especially those from low-income families. It amends state law to require districts to first offer these devices for sale at reduced cost or free grant to students before selling them to others, with low-income families getting first priority. The bill defines "low-income" as families qualifying for free/reduced meals or earning ≤185% of the federal poverty level. This creates a clear process for schools to repurpose unused tech instead of selling it broadly, directly helping students who lack home devices for learning.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrioritizes low-income students for surplus tech access, directly improving educational equity and access per bill's mandate to offer devices first to qualifying families.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prioritizes low-income students for free/reduced-cost tech hardware access, directly promoting digital equity - a key support indicator for technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track