Attorney general may demand records in certain civil investigations

The attorney general may issue written demands for records, written answers, or oral testimony before filing a civil case. The authority covers possible violations of specified constitutional and Washington laws, including laws on worker protections, civil rights, and health facilities. An assistant attorney general in the investigating division must review and approve the demand. The investigation must be within the attorney general’s authority, and the demand must be specific enough and seek information reasonably related to the investigation. The authority does not apply to criminal investigations or prosecutions, and it cannot target federal agencies or employees for conduct performed as part of their official duties. The supplied status information gives the measure an effective date of June 11, 2026; the text applies to demands issued under this section.

The attorney general must limit disclosure of investigative demands and the information received under them. The rules cover demands, records, written answers, and testimony obtained under this section. A court may approve keeping a demand’s existence or contents secret, subject to a good-cause court order and stated exceptions. Recipients may generally disclose the information to their lawyers, and the attorney general may share it with certain government officials who agree in writing to keep it confidential. The attorney general may not provide the information to a law-enforcement agency or another person for a criminal investigation. Trade secrets generally require court approval before being presented in court. These restrictions apply while information obtained under a demand is held or used under this section.

A person or organization may ask a superior court to change or cancel a demand, and the attorney general may ask a court to enforce one that is ignored. These court procedures cover recipients of demands and the attorney general, with cases filed in Thurston County or an applicable county where the parties live or do business. A recipient’s petition must state good cause and generally must be filed by the demand’s return date or within 30 days after service, whichever comes first. Courts may impose sanctions allowed under the civil rules for superior court. The attorney general must report demand activity to the appropriate legislative committees, including demands issued, demands set aside, and resulting settlements or court actions. The attorney general must provide the report within four years after this section’s effective date.