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WATEC director supports privacy exemption for centralized state portal; open-government groups warn of overbroad language

State Government & Tribal Relations Committee · January 27, 2026

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Summary

Washington Technology Solutions (WATEC) Director Bill Keeho backed HB 2491 to exempt personal data submitted to a unified portal from public disclosure; open-government advocates and journalists warned the bill's broad wording could sweep in governance records and retention policies.

Bill Keeho, Washington Technology Solutions director and state chief information officer, testified in support of House Bill 2491, saying the measure would protect personal information submitted to the proposed unified portal (wa.gov) and improve customer experience while routing requests appropriately to the relevant agencies. "The intent is to enhance the customer experience while protecting individual privacy," Keeho said.

Media representatives and transparency advocates pressed for narrow language and guardrails. Roland Thompson (media groups) said centralizing portal services is largely operational and that exemptions should not change existing PRA outcomes. Colette Weeks (Washington Coalition for Open Government) opposed sweeping exemptions, warned the bill’s repeated use of the word "all" risks "exemption creep," and urged specific limits to avoid covering governance or retention records. Jamie Nixon and Arthur West also criticized the bill as broader than necessary and asked the committee to limit exemptions to genuine security materials.

Committee members asked technical questions about the transition from SecureAccess Washington to a new single sign-on system; staff and WATEC clarified that SecureAccess Washington is scheduled for retirement and the new digital experience platform will centralize access. The hearing closed after multiple public comments; the committee did not take final action on HB 2491 that day.