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WashingtonSB 60022025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Concerning driver privacy protections.

Sponsored By: Yasmin Trudeau (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Legal remedies for plate tracking violations

Beginning March 30, 2026, you can sue if a violation of this law injures you. Courts may award money, order violations stopped, declare rights, or provide other appropriate relief; winning plaintiffs may recover costs and reasonable attorney fees. The law sets no fixed damages amount, and violations by contractors serving authorized agencies also fall under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act. Willful and intentional unauthorized queries, access, or use are gross misdemeanors, as are unlawful retention, sale, sharing, access permissions, or distribution of plate data or access logs. Information obtained through a knowing violation of the system-use rules cannot be admitted in civil or criminal cases, except in a damages action under this law with the injured party’s consent.

Drivers’ data cannot be freely shared

Beginning March 30, 2026, Washington agencies cannot buy, sell, lease, or rent plate reader data or access logs. Agencies need a valid court-issued warrant based on probable cause to obtain privately held plate reader data. Agency data is not available through public records requests; bona fide research is allowed only without information identifying people. Sharing is limited to required judicial proceedings, authorized state or local agencies for allowed purposes, and necessary vendor work. Vendors must block unauthorized access and onward sharing, including access by federal civil immigration enforcement, and keep default settings that prevent unauthorized sharing. Vendors cannot sell, lease, rent, or otherwise grant unauthorized access, and their own access must serve a specific agency-approved purpose. System changes, including updates affecting sharing permissions, require the Washington agency’s knowledge or explicit consent.

Drivers’ plate records face deletion deadlines

Beginning March 30, 2026, Washington agencies generally cannot keep plate reader data longer than 21 days or reuse it for another purpose. Parking data must be deleted within 12 hours after final disposition, including all applicable appeals. Traffic-study data must be deleted within 30 days of collection; commercial vehicle enforcement data within six months. Court-related retention requires a qualifying probable-cause felony or gross-misdemeanor warrant or subpoena, or a criminal or civil court order. That data must be deleted when the case ends under the applicable retention schedule. Evidence of specific unlawful conduct allowed by the law may be kept as long as needed.

Limits on plate tracking protect drivers

Beginning March 30, 2026, Washington agencies may use automated license plate readers only for listed purposes. Police may compare records with approved licensing, criminal justice, and missing-person databases. Vehicle searches must be relevant to covered stolen-vehicle, missing-person, warrant, or criminal investigations. Parking agencies may enforce parking rules and qualifying impoundment or immobilization ordinances, using only covered plates for those ordinances. Transportation agencies may use readers for live traffic information, traffic studies, and commercial vehicle enforcement at enforcement sites and weigh stations. Agencies own the data they collect and must update related databases at least every 24 hours. A reader match alone cannot justify a stop: officers need independent reasonable suspicion or immediate visual confirmation plus a separate database check. The law excludes specified school bus safety, traffic safety, and toll cameras.

Privacy protections at sensitive places

Beginning March 30, 2026, Washington agencies cannot use plate readers for immigration investigation or enforcement, or protected health-care-related surveillance. They also cannot track activity protected by the Washington Constitution or the First Amendment. Agencies cannot collect plate reader data at, immediately around, or on access routes to covered health care or immigration facilities. The collection ban also covers elementary and secondary schools, places of worship, courts, and food banks. Covered facilities include their buildings and immediately adjacent parking areas mainly or exclusively used for those purposes.

Access logs help check plate tracking

Beginning March 30, 2026, agencies operating or accessing plate readers must keep access logs for two years. Logs must record users and organizations, dates and times, query details, purposes and offense types, case or service-call numbers, and camera locations. Agencies must also record exports, downloads, and sharing, and download or retain vendor-generated audit records. Each agency must audit access and use at least annually, including compliance with retention, deletion, and sharing rules. Query details kept for audits cannot be searched, analyzed, compiled, or indexed for investigations; public disclosures must partially hide unique identifiers.

Public oversight of plate reader agencies

Beginning March 30, 2026, agencies using or planning to use plate readers must register within 180 days with Washington’s Attorney General. Agency heads must certify legal compliance, governing policies, and a documented training process; unregistered systems cannot be used. The Attorney General must publish model policies by July 1, 2027. By December 1, 2027, agencies must adopt and submit consistent policies or explain their differences and legal compliance. Agencies must publish policies online and send links to the Attorney General; local police must promote public awareness before or when starting a system. After December 1, 2026, policy changes or repeals require notice to the Attorney General within 60 days, with relevant policy copies. Annual usage reports go to the Attorney General and appropriate legislative committees and must be posted prominently online. Reports cover stops, arrests, prosecutions, recoveries, court orders, warrants, sharing, policy changes, audits, reads, searches, alerts, and camera locations. The Attorney General must publish a report on the requirements and model policies by December 31, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claudia Kauffman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Derek Stanford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Emily Alvarado

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jamie Pedersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jeff Holy

    Republican • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Liz Lovelett

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sharon Shewmake

    Democratic • Senate

  • Steve Conway

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Vandana Slatter

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 163 • No: 29

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 39 • No: 10

House vote • 3/5/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 84 • No: 10 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 2/4/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 40 • No: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 3/30/2026.

    3/30/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 239, 2026 Laws.

    3/30/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    3/30/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  6. President signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 39; nays, 10; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/10/2026Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    3/10/2026House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 84; nays, 10; absent, 0; excused, 4.

    3/5/2026Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/5/2026Senate

  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/5/2026Senate

  12. Committee amendment not adopted.

    3/5/2026Senate

  13. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/2/2026Senate

  14. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/25/2026Senate

  15. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/24/2026Senate

  16. CRJ - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    2/24/2026Senate

  17. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/24/2026Senate

  18. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

    2/6/2026Senate

  19. Third reading, passed; yeas, 40; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    2/4/2026Senate

  20. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/4/2026Senate

  21. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/4/2026Senate

  22. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/4/2026Senate

  23. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    1/28/2026Senate

  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    1/23/2026Senate

  25. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/22/2026Senate

Bill Text

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