Dear friends and neighbors:
As the federal government continues to pursue unlawful policies that threaten the privacy of Washington residents, the Legislature is working to protect people in our state.
Here are a few key bills advancing this session to protect privacy in Washington:
- I am the prime sponsor of SB 6081, which would prevent the Department of Licensing and the Department of Health from disclosing records about sex designation changes. This change would provide critical privacy for information in both driver’s licenses and birth records. In other states, we are seeing trans people told their driver’s licenses are now invalid. The legislation would protect trans individuals here in Washington who are stalked, harassed, or forced to change how they live because their personal information is made public. This bill would build upon legislation I sponsored and passed in 2023 to allow gender expression and identity as reasons to seal name changes. The bill has been passed by the Senate and is being considered in the House. You can watch my floor remarks on the bill here or by clicking on the image below.
- SB 6002 would establish the strictest controls in the country on automatic license plate reader cameras. Many cities in Washington have purchased and installed Flock cameras, which continuously photograph and identify vehicles with AI-powered Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. They then store that data in a network that can be searched by law enforcement agencies across the country. The legislation sets a 21-day limit for how long the data can be retained; clarifies who is responsible for the data; and prohibits the use of ALPR data for immigration enforcement or tracking protected activities such as free speech protests. It prohibits use of ALPR cameras near schools, places of worship, courthouses, or food banks. It also prohibits sharing of data with other agencies except in judicial proceedings, and requires logs of access of ALPR data, so use of the data can be monitored and investigated to ensure compliance. The bill has been passed by the Senate and is being considered in the House.
- HB 2105 would require employers to give workers notice about federal I-9 form audits. ICE has significantly increased the number of notices of inspection issued to employers nationwide in recent months. The legislation would ensure that workers get the same information as their employers when federal officials request an audit of their employment eligibility information. It would protect workers against retaliation, limit federal access to employment records, and establish enforcement mechanisms and penalties to ensure that workers’ rights are respected. The bill has passed the House and will be on the Senate floor for a vote in the coming days.
- SB 5892 would protect sensitive personal data in the statewide voter database. In 2025, the Trump administration sued several states and threatened legal action against Washington state after our Secretary of State refused to provide personal data contained in the database. Federal officials had requested the information attempting to find evidence of baseless claims of voter fraud. This bill would ensure that confidential information such as drivers’ license numbers, social security numbers, and full birth dates are not disclosed by county election officials. The bill also clarifies that the Secretary of State is the only agency allowed to respond to requests for sensitive voter information contained in the database. The bill has passed both the House and Senate and will soon be on its way to the governor’s desk for signature.
Thank you to everyone who attended our town hall at Kerry Hall on February 21. I will keep you updated as the Legislature concludes its work before we adjourn on March 12.
Best wishes,
