Committee reviews bill to expand public-records exemptions for gambling security and finance

Madison — The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee heard testimony Tuesday on House Bill 1222, which would expand exemptions under the state's Public Records Act for financial and security information held by the Washington State Gambling Commission and tribal gaming partners.

Desiree Omley, OPR staff, told the committee the bill would broaden current exemptions to include financial and security information submitted by applicants, licensees, gaming facilities and tribes under compacts, and would enlarge the categories of protected material beyond independent auditor reports and financial statements.

The measure, sponsor Representative Chris Stearns of the 47th Legislative District said, is aimed at “helping safeguard the security and the data of information used in the gaming ecosystem,” noting that threats include attempts to compromise gaming devices and facility security systems.

Supporters, including a representative of the Gambling Commission, told lawmakers the changes are intended to limit licensees’ exposure to fraud, robbery and cybersecurity threats and to protect the integrity of gaming equipment. Tricia Gullian, speaking for the Washington State Gambling Commission, said the agency consulted tribal partners, licensees and the Sunshine Committee while drafting the language and called the bill “a tool to ensure we continue to do just that.”

The staff briefing outlined several specific expansions in the bill: it would (1) change the protected class from documents submitted only by house-banked card game licensees and tribes to material submitted by applicants, licensees and gaming facilities; (2) broaden the definition of financial information to include bank account records, loan agreements and stock buyouts; (3) expand internal-control protections to cover technical specifications and procedures — examples cited included security-camera technical specifications and building access controls; (4) create an exemption for gaming facility security information such as firewall configurations, facility layout and schematics; and (5) protect gaming equipment information, including hardware and software security details such as source code and credentials.

Roland Thompson, representing Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington and the Washington State Association of Broadcasters, testified that his organizations “take no position on this bill. It seems reasonable to us and we think you should pass it,” and said the proposal had been discussed with the Sunshine Committee earlier in development.

No committee action or vote was taken at the hearing. The chair concluded the session after the scheduled testimony.

Why it matters: proponents say the exemptions limit public release of information that could be used to commit theft or cyberattacks against gambling facilities and to compromise gaming equipment; press representatives said they were consulted during drafting and did not oppose the bill. Opponents or privacy advocates did not appear in the record at the hearing.

Next steps: the bill remains at the hearing stage and will require further committee action before any floor vote.