WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION

HB 1055: Transparency ombuds study

Enhancing access to public records.

Summary

  • Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Transparency (JLCT) to coordinate with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC), the Office of the Attorney General, and the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (Sunshine Committee) to conduct a study on the efficacy of establishing an independent state agency to assist individuals with accessing public records.
  • Requires JLARC to submit a report on the findings of the study and recommendations by the JLTC.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1055), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeestopped here
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Peter Abbarno (R-20)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the House
Last action
January 12, 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to enhancing access to public records through studying the efficacy of establishing the Washington office of transparency ombuds as an independent state agency;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Peter Abbarno (R-20)

5 co-sponsors (2 Democrats, 3 Republicans)

Sam Low R-39Mari Leavitt D-28Joshua Penner R-31Matt Marshall R-2Gerry Pollet D-46

Votes

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  2. Referred to Appropriations.
  3. SGOV - Executive action taken by committee.
  4. SGOV - Majority; do pass.
  5. First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.
  6. Prefiled for introduction.

HB 1055 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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