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

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6049: Protecting student and employee information from public disclosure.

Washington State's SB 6049 expands privacy protections for public employees and volunteers by adding new exemptions to the state's public records law. The bill shields sensitive personal information such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and emergency contacts from public disclosure. It also creates specific protections for employees who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment, requiring a sworn statement or proof of participation in an address confidentiality program to anonymize their work contact details. These changes directly affect all public agencies, schools, and government employers in Washington by limiting access to certain personnel records.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill shields sensitive employee personal information (including domestic violence survivors' details), directly enhancing privacy protections under labor rights framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands data privacy protections by exempting sensitive personal information (SSNs, addresses, etc.) from public disclosure, directly aligning with technology privacy policies.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5984: Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

Washington State's SB 5984 regulates AI companion chatbots that simulate human-like relationships. It requires operators to clearly disclose at the start of use, every three hours for general users, and hourly for minors that the chatbot is artificial - not human - and prohibits it from claiming to be human. The bill also mandates operators to block sexually explicit content for minors, ban manipulative tactics (like mimicking romance or guilt-tripping), and implement safeguards for users expressing self-harm. It directly affects AI chatbot developers and operators serving Washington residents, with stricter rules for users under 18. The law aims to promote transparency and protect minors from emotional dependency risks.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates clear AI disclosure, blocks harmful content for minors, and bans manipulative tactics to protect users from deception - aligns with consumer protection in tech regulation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5188: Concerning broadband infrastructure repair loans.

SB 5188 expands an existing grant and loan program to include funding for the repair and replacement of middle mile and last mile broadband infrastructure. This program, administered by the board in collaboration with the office, aims to promote access to broadband service in unserved areas of Washington. Eligible applicants, such as local governments, Tribes, and nonprofit organizations, can apply for grants and loans. The bill outlines detailed application procedures and allows existing broadband service providers to submit objections to proposed projects under specific conditions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands broadband infrastructure funding to improve internet access in unserved areas, directly advancing internet access as a core technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2303: Prohibiting employers from microchipping employees.

HB 2303 prohibits employers in Washington state from requiring, requesting, or coercing employees to have microchips implanted. It directly affects all employers (including state agencies) and employees, excluding medical devices used for health monitoring. The bill creates a legal remedy allowing affected employees to sue for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions if violated. It defines "microchip" as subcutaneous devices storing personal data, but clarifies medical implants for health treatment are exempt.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits forced employee microchipping, protecting workers' bodily autonomy and privacy rights in the workplace, aligning with labor rights protections.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits employer microchipping, protecting employee data privacy by restricting unauthorized data storage in subcutaneous devices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2606: Concerning performance measures, duties, and reporting requirements for the office of privacy and data protection.

HB 2606 creates an Office of Privacy and Data Protection within Washington State's government to centralize data privacy oversight. It requires the office to conduct annual privacy reviews and training for state agencies, develop privacy best practices, coordinate data protection efforts (including for AI projects), and serve as a resource for local governments and the public on data privacy. The bill mandates that the office submit detailed performance reports to the legislature every four years, tracking metrics like training participation, public contacts, privacy assessments completed, and coordination with privacy experts. These reports must demonstrate progress on improving privacy policies and practices across state agencies and local governments.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Office of Privacy and Data Protection with mandates for oversight, best practices, and AI coordination, strengthening data privacy protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology