Bill > SB5122

This bill enacts the Uniform Antitrust Premerger Notification Act, which establishes requirements for businesses filing premerger notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. The bill mandates that certain businesses file an electronic copy of their HSR form with the state attorney general if they have their principal place of business in Washington, have annual net sales in the state of at least 20% of the filing threshold, or are a healthcare provider operating in the state. The bill includes strict confidentiality provisions, preventing the attorney general from publicly disclosing the filed documents except under specific circumstances, such as during a legal proceeding with a protective order or when sharing information with federal antitrust agencies or attorneys general from other states with similar confidentiality laws. Businesses that fail to comply with the filing requirements can be subject to civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day of noncompliance. The legislation aims to provide uniformity in premerger notification processes across jurisdictions and will only apply to notifications filed on or after its effective date. The bill also amends existing state law to clarify that providing an HSR form to the attorney general satisfies existing notice requirements for healthcare providers.