Technology

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2599: Protecting the integrity of therapy and psychotherapy services.

This bill prohibits licensed mental health professionals in Washington from using artificial intelligence to independently make therapeutic decisions, directly interact with clients, generate treatment plans, or detect client emotions. It allows AI use only for administrative tasks like scheduling or billing, and for supplementary support like note-taking only with explicit written consent from the client. The legislation defines specific categories of permitted versus prohibited AI use to maintain human oversight in therapy and psychotherapy services. Violations of these rules could result in professional discipline for licensed practitioners. The bill aims to protect consumers from unregulated AI tools while preserving appropriate AI assistance under professional supervision.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts AI use in mental health services, limiting tools that could enhance therapy and patient care.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts AI use in mental health therapy, limiting technology applications in professional services to administrative tasks only.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 6299: Concerning artificial intelligence and instructional staff.

This bill prohibits using artificial intelligence to replace certified teachers or support staff (paraeducators) in Washington schools. It allows AI to supplement or enhance instruction but explicitly bans its use for replacing human educators. The law directly affects public schools and instructional staff by setting clear boundaries for AI integration in classrooms. It creates a new legal standard in education policy without specifying implementation details.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits AI replacement of certified teachers/paraeducators, directly protecting human educators in classrooms per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits AI replacement of certified teachers/paraeducators, directly protecting instructional staff jobs and rights under Labor & Employment policy.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits AI from replacing teachers, restricting AI deployment in education despite allowing supplementary use, directly limiting AI application in a key sector.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2708: Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.

HB 2708 removes a tax exemption for data center equipment replacement in Washington State, directly affecting data center operators currently using this exemption. The bill eliminates the tax break for purchasing new server equipment and power infrastructure, with existing exemptions set to expire by July 2048. It also requires qualifying data centers to meet new employment thresholds - adding 35 family wage jobs or 3 per 20,000 sq ft of new server space - to maintain their exemption. New exemption certificates for refurbished data centers can no longer be issued after July 2026, and all new applications for this exemption are prohibited after that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves tax exemption for data centers, closing a loophole to increase state revenue and strengthen fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates data centers to add 'family wage jobs' as condition to maintain tax exemption, directly promoting job creation and quality employment standards.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill eliminates tax exemption for data center equipment replacement, increasing operational costs for tech infrastructure operators and restricting financial incentives for data center expansion.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Procurement Tax Incentives

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5956: Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools.

SB 5956 prohibits Washington public schools from using artificial intelligence (AI) or surveillance technologies to make or solely determine student discipline decisions, such as suspensions or expulsions. It bans "risk scores" predicting student misconduct, biometric tracking for emotional/mental health analysis, and automated watchlists, requiring human review for any discipline action involving AI or surveillance data. The law directly affects all K-12 public school districts, charter schools, and tribal education programs in Washington, mandating updates to policies to prevent discriminatory impacts on students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students. It also restricts sharing student data with law enforcement except in emergencies involving imminent serious physical harm.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits AI/surveillance in student discipline to protect students from biased automated decisions, strengthening educational fairness and student rights in K-12 settings.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits AI/surveillance in school discipline to protect student privacy, restricting technology use in this context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5094: Concerning sexually explicit depictions of minors.

SB 5094 redefines "digitization" to explicitly include AI-generated images of minors, making it illegal to create or alter visual content depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct using such technology. It directly affects individuals who produce, distribute, or possess fabricated depictions of minors created through AI or other digitization methods. The bill amends Washington’s sexual exploitation laws to clarify that knowingly causing minors to be photographed during explicit conduct (including when unconscious) constitutes a class B felony, and adds this offense to the list of crimes with no statute of limitations for prosecution. Key provisions include defining "sexually explicit conduct" broadly and expanding the scope of prohibited "fabricated depictions" to cover AI-generated material.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens sexual exploitation laws by explicitly criminalizing AI-generated child exploitation content, directly protecting minors under criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI-generated explicit content of minors, directly limiting technology use for illegal purposes under amended sexual exploitation laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Artificial Intelligence

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signed · Washington · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 5346: Restricting mobile device usage by public school students.

SB 5346 requires Washington public school districts to adopt policies restricting student mobile device use during instructional hours by the 2026-27 school year. It directs the state superintendent to report on existing policies and recommend strategies (like time limits or secure storage) by December 2025, leading to a model policy developed by school directors. School districts must align their local policies with this model and share them annually with students and families. The bill excludes school-issued devices and defines "instructional hours" per existing law, focusing on reducing distractions and supporting mental health without specifying direct device bans.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill mandates restrictions on student mobile device use during instruction, directly limiting classroom technology access and student behavior in learning environments, aligning with 'restricts curriculum or academic freedom' indicators.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts mobile device use during school instruction, directly limiting technology access in educational settings per bill requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1169: Concerning offenses involving fabricated depictions of minors.

HB 1169 expands Washington state law to criminalize the creation, distribution, or possession of AI-generated or digitally altered images depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct - even when the minor is not identifiable. The bill amends definitions to explicitly include AI-generated content under "digitization" and "fabricated depiction," covering any realistic image of a minor engaged in sexual acts, regardless of whether the image shows a real child. It classifies violations as class B felonies, with separate charges for each image created or shared. This directly affects individuals using AI tools to produce such content, aiming to address the challenge of detecting fabricated child sexual abuse material online. The law targets the proliferation of AI-generated images that could desensitize viewers or increase exploitation risks, without requiring the depicted minor to be identifiable.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding AI-generated minor exploitation images to criminal offenses, increasing penalties under criminal justice law without reform indicators.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI-generated content misuse for child safety, limiting specific tech application under criminal law rather than advancing tech policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Artificial Intelligence

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signed · Washington · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 5105: Concerning offenses involving fabricated depictions of minors.

Senate Bill 5105 expands Washington's existing laws concerning fabricated depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The bill amends current definitions to remove the requirement that the depicted minor be "identifiable" for an image to be considered a "fabricated depiction." It explicitly includes images created or altered using artificial intelligence or other digital tools within the scope of prohibited "digitization." This legislation aims to broaden the ability to prosecute crimes involving such material, affecting individuals who create, possess, or disseminate these depictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by removing 'identifiable' requirement and including AI-generated content, enabling broader prosecution of fabricated minor depictions.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI/digital tool use in creating fabricated minor depictions, including AI images, for child protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5302: Prohibiting the purchase of small unmanned aircrafts manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.

Washington's SB 5302 prohibits state and local government agencies (including law enforcement) from purchasing, acquiring, or operating small drones (under 55 pounds) made by specific foreign entities. It bans the use of public funds for such drones and defines "covered foreign entities" as those on U.S. sanctions lists, based in China or Russia, or controlled by those governments. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, requiring agencies to stop using covered drones by that date. This directly affects government drone programs and procurement practices across Washington state.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts government procurement of foreign-made drones (a technology) for national security, limiting adoption of specific tech products from targeted countries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1336: Protecting utility consumer meter choice.

HB 1336 allows utility consumers (end-users of electricity, water, or gas) to refuse replacement of their existing analog meters with digital meters or request removal of installed digital meters. It requires utilities to replace digital meters with analog ones at no cost to the consumer within 10-30 days, depending on health concerns, and mandates 90 days' written notice before installation. The bill also requires utilities to maintain records of consumer requests and responses for three years. It applies to all electric, gas, and water utilities in Washington, including both investor-owned and consumer-owned providers.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts deployment of digital meters by requiring utilities to replace them with analog upon consumer request, limiting adoption of this technology in utility services.90% confidence

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