Washington House passes bill to standardize jail strip-search rules after heated debate over staff protections

The Washington House passed Substitute House Bill 1604 on final passage after several hours of debate over how local jails should conduct strip searches and whether staff may decline specific search duties for religious or consent reasons.

Supporters said the bill clarifies and aligns local jails with federal standards, citing the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Representative Saladin, the bill’s floor speaker, said the legislation "adds important safeguards and guidelines, which build upon federal law" and will "help our local officials know what to do in different situations and yes to protect the dignity of all in Washington state." Advocates on the floor said the bill gives counties and cities clearer rules to comply with state and federal requirements.

Opponents argued the bill would change working conditions for corrections officers and could force female staff to perform invasive duties on people with male anatomy. Representative Griffey said the bill, in its current form, would "force women to have to do something that they may never have had to do in their life" and urged rejection. Representative Jacobson also warned of staffing and operational impacts, asking the body to "consider adopting" accommodations that would ease staffing and liability concerns.

Amendments and outcomes

Lawmakers debated a series of amendments that sought to add intent language, require the attorney general to defend staff who refuse certain duties, create religious-accommodation procedures for corrections staff, clarify exigent circumstances, limit how frequently incarcerated people may change their recorded gender identity, and shift the bill's effective date.

- Amendment 14-92 (intent language and AG defense): moved and debated; failed on a voice vote. Proponent Representative Walsh said the amendment "adds a new intent section ... that recognizes existing federal constitutional case law" and would obligate the state attorney general to defend staff named in litigation. Opponents countered the attorney general does not indemnify local government employees.

- Amendment 14-94 (dignity and staffing protections): moved by Representative Marshall and described as aligning the bill with proven statutory requirements and PREA; it failed on a voice vote.

- Amendment 14-93 (religious accommodations): moved by Representative Abel to create a process allowing jail staff to decline searches that conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs and to establish a formal accommodation process; proponents argued it protects constitutional rights, while opponents warned it would create staffing and operational challenges. The amendment failed on a voice vote.

- Amendment 14-70 (implementation date shift to 2026): moved by Representative Saladin and adopted by voice vote, changing the bill’s effective date from 2025 to 2026.

- Amendment 14-91 (insert 'gender identity'): moved by Representative Couture and heavily debated; a division/roll-call was requested. The clerk reported "37 yays, 15 nays, 3 excused," but the chair recorded "The nays have it" and the amendment was recorded as not adopted. (The apparent inconsistency between the clerk's tally reporting and the chair's announcement is noted in the record.)

- Other amendments (14-95, 14-96, 14-97, and a striking substitute 14-89) were debated and ultimately not adopted.

Final passage and vote

On final passage the House recorded a roll-call result of 56 yays, 39 nays, and 3 excused and the Speaker declared the engrossed substitute House Bill 1604 passed. The clerk announced that a constitutional majority had been received and that floor action was concluded for the day.

Context and next steps

The bill was framed by supporters as clarifying previously uneven practice in local jails and bringing Washington law into alignment with federal guidance under the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Opponents repeatedly raised concerns about staff safety, consent, religious objections and potential staffing shortages that they said could follow if no accommodations were provided. The House advanced the bill on third reading; any further changes would occur in subsequent legislative steps or in administrative implementation documents written by jurisdictions required to comply.

Votes at a glance

- Amendment 14-70 (shift implementation to 2026): adopted (voice vote). - Amendment 14-91 (insert 'gender identity'): division called; recorded as not adopted (clerk reported a roll tally then chair announced not adopted). - Final passage of engrossed Substitute HB 1604: passed by roll call, 56 yays, 39 nays, 3 excused.

The House placed the chamber at ease after floor action concluded.