Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the state from cooperating with out-of-state abortion and gender affirming care lawsuits.

Highlights:

• Establishes this law as the Shield Law (Sec. 1). 

• Defines terms related to healthcare (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that subpoenas that seek to hide the fact that they concern information about protected healthcare services in the state of washington will result in civil penalty (Sec. 3). 

• Prohibits subpoenas from being brought forward concerning testimony and information about protected healthcare services unless it explicitly relates to a tort, contract or statute that exists in the state of Washington (Sec. 3). 

• Specifies that any application to receive communications based on the provision of protected healthcare activities must attest that the activities are legal in the state of washington (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that the court shall not issue an order for the interception of communication regarding lawful healthcare activity in the state of washington (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits that the court shall not issue an order for the implementation of a pen register, trap and trace device or cell site simulator for the purposes of collecting information on legally protected healthcare activity (Sec. 6). 

• Prohibits the summoning of a witness out of state if the purpose of the testimony relates to legally protected healthcare activities in the state of washington (Sec. 7). 

• Prohibited the issuance of a warrant if the warrant relates to protected healthcare activities (Sec. 9). 

• Prohibits arrest based on the attainment of protected healthcare activity (Sec. 10). 

• Prohibits the issuance of criminal process if the process is explicitly related to protected healthcare activity (Sec. 11). 

• Specifies that a Washington resident shall not be required to comply with a criminal process started by another state (Sec. 12).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the state from cooperating with out-of-state abortion and gender affirming care lawsuits.

Highlights:

• Establishes this law as the Shield Law (Sec. 1). 

• Defines terms related to healthcare (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies that subpoenas that seek to hide the fact that they concern information about protected healthcare services in the state of washington will result in civil penalty (Sec. 3). 

• Prohibits subpoenas from being brought forward concerning testimony and information about protected healthcare services unless it explicitly relates to a tort, contract or statute that exists in the state of Washington (Sec. 3). 

• Specifies that any application to receive communications based on the provision of protected healthcare activities must attest that the activities are legal in the state of washington (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that the court shall not issue an order for the interception of communication regarding lawful healthcare activity in the state of washington (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits that the court shall not issue an order for the implementation of a pen register, trap and trace device or cell site simulator for the purposes of collecting information on legally protected healthcare activity (Sec. 6). 

• Prohibits the summoning of a witness out of state if the purpose of the testimony relates to legally protected healthcare activities in the state of washington (Sec. 7). 

• Prohibited the issuance of a warrant if the warrant relates to protected healthcare activities (Sec. 9). 

• Prohibits arrest based on the attainment of protected healthcare activity (Sec. 10). 

• Prohibits the issuance of criminal process if the process is explicitly related to protected healthcare activity (Sec. 11). 

• Specifies that a Washington resident shall not be required to comply with a criminal process started by another state (Sec. 12).

Full Bill Text