WSR 26-05-046
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Home and Community Living Administration)
[Filed February 12, 2026, 11:40 a.m., effective March 15, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The adopted rules implement sections of SHB 1218, chapter 159, Laws [of 2021], which requires facilities to create and regularly maintain a resident roster, complete contact information, and respond to requests from the long-term care ombuds within specified time frames; and requires facilities to post stop placement orders in a conspicuous place.
Replaces "his or her" with gender-neutral terms, and defines "resident representative" (applied in this rule making to adult family homes, nursing homes, and enhanced services facilities, which do not currently have a statutory definition).
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 388-76-10231, 388-97-1645, and 388-107-0565; and amending WAC 388-76-10000, 388-76-10320, 388-76-10980, 388-78A-2020, 388-78A-2410, 388-78A-2440, 388-78A-3200, 388-97-0001, 388-97-0240, 388-97-0260, 388-97-0280, 388-97-0300, 388-97-0340, 388-97-0360, 388-97-0420, 388-97-0480, 388-97-0580, 388-97-0860, 388-97-0880, 388-97-0900, 388-97-1720, 388-97-4540, 388-107-0001, 388-107-0560, and 388-107-1430.
Other Authority: Chapter
74.39 RCW.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-24-032 on November 25, 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 3, Amended 25, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 1, Amended 3, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 2, Amended 22, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: February 12, 2026.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 26-07 issue of the Register.