DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Filed March 3, 2026, 1:16 p.m., effective April 3, 2026]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Chapter 365-250 WAC; the purpose of this rule is to establish regulations in response to RCW 43.31.605, and define what information will be kept confidential by the landlord mitigation program. This rule specifies what information will be redacted from public records requests to protect the security of survivors of domestic violence.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New chapter 365-250 WAC.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.31.605.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-24-089 on December 2, 2025.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: March 3, 2026.

Chapter 365-250 WAC

THE LANDLORD MITIGATION PROGRAM—MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION RECEIVED THROUGH THE LANDLORD SURVIVOR RELIEF PROGRAM

WAC 365-250-010Purpose and authority.

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations for the department administering the landlord mitigation program regarding personally identifying information received through the landlord survivor relief program.

(2) Authority for this chapter and the following regulations is granted in RCW 43.31.605.

(3) The landlord mitigation program will maintain the confidentiality of all personally identifying information, confidential communications, and all confidential information received through the landlord survivor relief program. Information that individually or together with other information could identify a particular survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking will also be kept confidential.

WAC 365-250-020Definitions.

"Personally identifying information" or "personal information" means individually identifying information for or about an individual. This includes information likely to disclose the location of a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, regardless of whether the information is encoded, encrypted, hashed, or otherwise protected. This includes:

(1) A first and/or last name;

(2) Children's names;

(3) A home or other physical address;

(4) Contact information (including a postal, email, or internet protocol address, or telephone or facsimile number);

(5) A Social Security number, driver license number, passport number, or student identification number;

(6) Police reports or police report numbers;

(7) Protection order numbers;

(8) Signature;

(9) Date of birth;

(10) Racial or ethnic background;

(11) Religious affiliation;

(12) Other information that would personally identify a victim of domestic violence who seeks or has received services from a domestic violence program; or

(13) Such other information which, taken individually or together with other identifying information, that would serve to identify any individual.