Bill > SB5964

This bill establishes a new office of the state senior independent living ombuds to support seniors living in independent living facilities and the independent living portions of continuing care retirement communities, which are housing options for seniors who wish to live independently but may be unable to easily move due to rental agreements or long-term contracts. The bill defines "senior independent living" to include age-restricted rental communities and certain sections of continuing care retirement communities, explicitly excluding facilities that provide medical care or assistance with daily living. The Department of Commerce will contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide these ombuds services, which will include investigating and resolving resident complaints, tracking data on issues, and advocating for consumer protection and landlord-tenant rights. The ombuds will have specific training requirements and limitations to ensure impartiality, and senior independent living communities will be required to post information about the ombuds office. The ombuds will also coordinate with other state ombuds offices and refer violations to appropriate government agencies, while maintaining confidentiality of resident information.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5964&Year=2025&Initiative=false