Bill > HB2244

This bill adopts recommendations from the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee's 2025 annual report, making several changes to existing laws. It clarifies that the office of the state long-term care ombudsman will establish disclosure procedures consistent with federal law and the state's public records act (RCW 42.56 RCW), which generally requires government records to be open to public inspection. The bill also modifies rules regarding grand jury reports, specifying that they can be released to the public if they concern broad public policy, serve the public interest, and do not prejudice ongoing investigations. Information about archaeological sites will now be exempt from disclosure under a specific provision of the public records act to prevent site depredation. The bill also adjusts how reports and records from state toxicologist analyses of blood samples from traffic accident fatalities are handled, making them available to parties in civil or criminal actions. Additionally, it updates regulations on the disclosure of accident reports, allowing for the release of certain identifying information to interested parties and requiring redaction of personal details for broader public disclosure under the public records act. It also removes a provision that made reports on children with behavior problems confidential, and changes a law concerning the director of financial management's reports on state departments to remove the "confidential" designation. Finally, the bill repeals three existing laws related to the confidentiality of information in specific contexts.