Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:
(a) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination;
(b) All applications for public employment other than for vacancies in elective office, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant;
(c) Professional growth plans (PGPs) in educator license renewals submitted through the eCert system in the office of the superintendent of public instruction;
(d) The following information held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or included in any mailing list of employees or volunteers of any public agency: Residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, identicard numbers, payroll deductions including the amount and identification of the deduction, and emergency contact information of employees or volunteers of a public agency, and the names, dates of birth, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of dependents of employees or volunteers of a public agency. For purposes of this subsection (1)(d), "employees" includes independent provider home care workers as defined in RCW 74.39A.240;
(e) Information that identifies a person who, while an agency employee: (i) Seeks advice, under an informal process established by the employing agency, in order to ascertain his or her rights in connection with a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW against the person; and (ii) requests his or her identity or any identifying information not be disclosed;
(f)(i) Except as provided in (f)(ii) of this subsection, investigative records compiled by an employing agency in connection with an investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws or an employing agency's internal policies prohibiting discrimination or harassment in employment. Records are exempt in their entirety while the investigation is active and ongoing. After the agency has notified the complaining employee of the outcome of the investigation, the records may be disclosed only if the names, images, employee agency job titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of complainants, other accusers, and witnesses are redacted and their voices on any audio recording taken during the course of the investigation have been altered while retaining inflection and tone, except to the extent that such a complainant, other accuser, or witness has consented to the disclosure of such information. The employing agency must inform a complainant, other accuser, or witness that his or her name, image, agency job title, email address, and phone number will be redacted from the investigation records and their voice on any audio recording taken during the course of the investigation will be altered in accordance with this subsection unless he or she consents to disclosure;
(ii) After the investigation is complete and the complainant has been notified of the outcome of the investigation, if an elected government official is a complainant, the name and title of such elected government official shall not be redacted from the investigatory records;
(g) Criminal history records checks for board staff finalist candidates conducted pursuant to RCW 43.33A.025;
(h) Photographs and month and year of birth in the personnel files of employees or volunteers of a public agency, including employees and workers of criminal justice agencies as defined in RCW 10.97.030. The news media, as defined in RCW 5.68.010(5), shall have access to the photographs and full date of birth. For the purposes of this subsection (1)(h), news media does not include any person or organization of persons in the custody of a criminal justice agency as defined in RCW 10.97.030;
(i)(i) Any employee's name or other personally identifying information, including but not limited to birthdate, job title, addresses of work stations and locations, work email address, work phone number, bargaining unit, or other similar information, maintained by an agency in personnel-related records or systems, or responsive to a request for a list of individuals subject to the commercial purpose prohibition under RCW 42.56.070(8), if the employee:
(A) Has provided a sworn statement, signed under penalty of perjury and verified by the director of the employing agency or director's designee, that the employee or a dependent of the employee is a survivor of domestic violence as defined in RCW 10.99.020 or 7.105.010, sexual assault as defined in RCW 70.125.030 or sexual abuse as defined in RCW 7.105.010, stalking as described in RCW 9A.46.110 or defined in RCW 7.105.010, or harassment as described in RCW 9A.46.020 or defined in RCW 7.105.010, and notifying the agency as to why the employee has a reasonable basis to believe that the risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, or harassment continues to exist. A sworn statement under this subsection expires after two years, but may be subsequently renewed by providing a new sworn statement to the employee's employing agency; or
(B) Provides proof to the employing agency of the employee's participation or the participation of a dependent in the address confidentiality program under chapter 40.24 RCW.
(ii) Any documentation maintained by an agency to administer this subsection (1)(i) is exempt from disclosure under this chapter and is confidential and may not be disclosed without consent of the employee who submitted the documentation. Agencies may provide information to their employees on how to submit a request to anonymize their work email address.
(iii) For purposes of this subsection (1)(i), "verified" means that the director of the employing agency or director's designee confirmed that the sworn statement identifies the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators by name and, if possible, image or likeness, or that the director or designee obtained from the employee a police report, protection order petition, or other documentation of allegations related to the domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or harassment.
(iv) The exemption in this subsection (1)(i) does not apply to public records requests from the news media as defined in RCW 5.68.010(5);
(j) The global positioning system data that would indicate the location of the residence of a public employee or volunteer using the global positioning system recording device;
(k) Information relating to a future voter, as provided in RCW 29A.08.725;
(l) Voluntarily submitted information collected and maintained by a state agency or higher education institution that identifies an individual state employee's personal demographic details. "Personal demographic details" means race or ethnicity, sexual orientation as defined by RCW 49.60.040, immigration status, national origin, or status as a person with a disability. This exemption does not prevent the release of state employee demographic information in a deidentified or aggregate format; and
(m) Benefit enrollment information collected and maintained by the health care authority through its authority as director of the public employees' benefits board and school employees' benefits board programs as authorized by chapter 41.05 RCW. This subsection (1)(m) does not prevent the release of benefit enrollment information in a deidentified or aggregate format. "Benefit enrollment information" means:
(i) Information listed in (d) of this subsection;
(ii) Personal demographic details as defined in (l) of this subsection;
(iii) Benefit elections;
(iv) Date of birth;
(v) Documents provided for verification of dependency, such as tax returns or marriage or birth certificates;
(vi) Marital status;
(vii) Primary language spoken;
(viii) Tobacco use status; and
(ix) Tribal affiliation.
(2) Upon receipt of a request for information located exclusively in an employee's personnel, payroll, supervisor, or training file, the agency must provide notice to the employee, to any union representing the employee, and to the requestor. The notice must state:
(a) The date of the request;
(b) The nature of the requested record relating to the employee;
(c) That the agency will release any information in the record which is not exempt from the disclosure requirements of this chapter at least ten days from the date the notice is made; and
(d) That the employee may seek to enjoin release of the records under RCW 42.56.540.
[ 2025 c 283 s 1. Prior: 2023 c 458 s 1; 2023 c 361 s 15; 2023 c 45 s 1; 2020 c 106 s 1; prior: 2019 c 349 s 2; 2019 c 229 s 1; 2018 c 109 s 17; prior: 2017 c 38 s 1; 2017 c 16 s 1; 2014 c 106 s 1; prior: 2010 c 257 s 1; 2010 c 128 s 9; 2006 c 209 s 6; 2005 c 274 s 405.]

Notes:

Effective date2023 c 458: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 15, 2023]." [ 2023 c 458 s 3.]
Findings2019 c 349: "The legislature finds that workplace harassment remains a persistent problem and there is an urgent need to address barriers that prevent people from reporting harassment. The United States equal employment opportunity commission select task force on the study of harassment in the workplace released a report in 2016 finding that ninety percent of individuals who experience harassment never take formal action, and noting that seventy-five percent of employees who spoke out against workplace mistreatment faced some sort of retaliation. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest for state employees to feel safe to report incidents of harassment when it occurs and to protect these employees from an increased risk of retaliation. The legislature finds that the release of the identities of employees who report or participate in harassment investigations increases the risk of retaliation, invades the privacy of a vulnerable population, and significantly reduces reporting of harassment. The legislature finds that if state government can make it easier for victims and witnesses of harassment to come forward and report harassment, harassment issues can be dealt with before they worsen or spread." [ 2019 c 349 s 1.]
FindingsIntentEffective date2018 c 109: See notes following RCW 29A.08.170.

Employment and licensing. (Effective June 1, 2028.)

(1) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:
(a) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination;
(b) All applications for public employment other than for vacancies in elective office, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant;
(c) Professional growth plans (PGPs) in educator license renewals submitted through the eCert system in the office of the superintendent of public instruction;
(d) The following information held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or included in any mailing list of employees or volunteers of any public agency: Residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, identicard numbers, payroll deductions including the amount and identification of the deduction, and emergency contact information of employees or volunteers of a public agency, and the names, dates of birth, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of dependents of employees or volunteers of a public agency. For purposes of this subsection (1)(d), "employees" includes independent provider home care workers as defined in RCW 74.39A.240;
(e) Information that identifies a person who, while an agency employee: (i) Seeks advice, under an informal process established by the employing agency, in order to ascertain his or her rights in connection with a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW against the person; and (ii) requests his or her identity or any identifying information not be disclosed;
(f)(i) Except as provided in (f)(ii) of this subsection, investigative records compiled by an employing agency in connection with an investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws or an employing agency's internal policies prohibiting discrimination or harassment in employment. Records are exempt in their entirety while the investigation is active and ongoing. After the agency has notified the complaining employee of the outcome of the investigation, the records may be disclosed only if the names, images, employee agency job titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of complainants, other accusers, and witnesses are redacted and their voices on any audio recording taken during the course of the investigation have been altered while retaining inflection and tone, except to the extent that such a complainant, other accuser, or witness has consented to the disclosure of such information. The employing agency must inform a complainant, other accuser, or witness that his or her name, image, agency job title, email address, and phone number will be redacted from the investigation records and their voice on any audio recording taken during the course of the investigation will be altered in accordance with this subsection unless he or she consents to disclosure;
(ii) After the investigation is complete and the complainant has been notified of the outcome of the investigation, if an elected government official is a complainant, the name and title of such elected government official shall not be redacted from the investigatory records;
(g) Criminal history records checks for board staff finalist candidates conducted pursuant to RCW 43.33A.025;
(h) Photographs and month and year of birth in the personnel files of employees or volunteers of a public agency, including employees and workers of criminal justice agencies as defined in RCW 10.97.030. The news media, as defined in RCW 5.68.010(5), shall have access to the photographs and full date of birth. For the purposes of this subsection (1)(h), news media does not include any person or organization of persons in the custody of a criminal justice agency as defined in RCW 10.97.030;
(i)(i) Any employee's name or other personally identifying information, including but not limited to birthdate, job title, addresses of work stations and locations, work email address, work phone number, bargaining unit, or other similar information, maintained by an agency in personnel-related records or systems, or responsive to a request for a list of individuals subject to the commercial purpose prohibition under RCW 42.56.070(8), if the employee:
(A) Has provided a sworn statement, signed under penalty of perjury and verified by the director of the employing agency or director's designee, that the employee or a dependent of the employee is a survivor of domestic violence as defined in RCW 10.99.020 or 7.105.010, sexual assault as defined in RCW 70.125.030 or sexual abuse as defined in RCW 7.105.010, stalking as described in RCW 9A.46.110 or defined in RCW 7.105.010, or harassment as described in RCW 9A.46.020 or defined in RCW 7.105.010, and notifying the agency as to why the employee has a reasonable basis to believe that the risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, or harassment continues to exist. A sworn statement under this subsection expires after two years, but may be subsequently renewed by providing a new sworn statement to the employee's employing agency; or
(B) Proof [Provides proof] to the employing agency of the employee's participation or the participation of a dependent in the address confidentiality program under chapter 40.24 RCW.
(ii) Any documentation maintained by an agency to administer this subsection (1)(i) is exempt from disclosure under this chapter and is confidential and may not be disclosed without consent of the employee who submitted the documentation. Agencies may provide information to their employees on how to submit a request to anonymize their work email address.
(iii) For purposes of this subsection (1)(i), "verified" means that the director of the employing agency or director's designee confirmed that the sworn statement identifies the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators by name and, if possible, image or likeness, or that the director or designee obtained from the employee a police report, protection order petition, or other documentation of allegations related to the domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or harassment.
(iv) The exemption in this subsection (1)(i) does not apply to public records requests from the news media as defined in RCW 5.68.010(5);
(j) The global positioning system data that would indicate the location of the residence of a public employee or volunteer using the global positioning system recording device;
(k) Information relating to a future voter, as provided in RCW 29A.08.725;
(l) Voluntarily submitted information collected and maintained by a state agency or higher education institution that identifies an individual state employee's personal demographic details. "Personal demographic details" means race or ethnicity, sexual orientation as defined by RCW 49.60.040, immigration status, national origin, or status as a person with a disability. This exemption does not prevent the release of state employee demographic information in a deidentified or aggregate format;
(m) Benefit enrollment information collected and maintained by the health care authority through its authority as director of the public employees' benefits board and school employees' benefits board programs as authorized by chapter 41.05 RCW. This subsection (1)(m) does not prevent the release of benefit enrollment information in a deidentified or aggregate format. "Benefit enrollment information" means:
(i) Information listed in (d) of this subsection;
(ii) Personal demographic details as defined in (l) of this subsection;
(iii) Benefit elections;
(iv) Date of birth;
(v) Documents provided for verification of dependency, such as tax returns or marriage or birth certificates;
(vi) Marital status;
(vii) Primary language spoken;
(viii) Tobacco use status; and
(ix) Tribal affiliation; and
(n) Information contributed by the department of licensing to the data system or shared with the cosmetology licensure compact commission, or member states described in the cosmetology licensure compact pursuant to RCW 18.16.400.
(2) Upon receipt of a request for information located exclusively in an employee's personnel, payroll, supervisor, or training file, the agency must provide notice to the employee, to any union representing the employee, and to the requestor. The notice must state:
(a) The date of the request;
(b) The nature of the requested record relating to the employee;
(c) That the agency will release any information in the record which is not exempt from the disclosure requirements of this chapter at least ten days from the date the notice is made; and
(d) That the employee may seek to enjoin release of the records under RCW 42.56.540.
[ 2025 c 283 s 1; 2025 c 238 s 5. Prior: 2023 c 458 s 1; 2023 c 361 s 15; 2023 c 45 s 1; 2020 c 106 s 1; prior: 2019 c 349 s 2; 2019 c 229 s 1; 2018 c 109 s 17; prior: 2017 c 38 s 1; 2017 c 16 s 1; 2014 c 106 s 1; prior: 2010 c 257 s 1; 2010 c 128 s 9; 2006 c 209 s 6; 2005 c 274 s 405.]

Notes:

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2025 c 238 s 5 and by 2025 c 283 s 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date2025 c 238: See note following RCW 18.16.400.
Effective date2023 c 458: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 15, 2023]." [ 2023 c 458 s 3.]
Findings2019 c 349: "The legislature finds that workplace harassment remains a persistent problem and there is an urgent need to address barriers that prevent people from reporting harassment. The United States equal employment opportunity commission select task force on the study of harassment in the workplace released a report in 2016 finding that ninety percent of individuals who experience harassment never take formal action, and noting that seventy-five percent of employees who spoke out against workplace mistreatment faced some sort of retaliation. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest for state employees to feel safe to report incidents of harassment when it occurs and to protect these employees from an increased risk of retaliation. The legislature finds that the release of the identities of employees who report or participate in harassment investigations increases the risk of retaliation, invades the privacy of a vulnerable population, and significantly reduces reporting of harassment. The legislature finds that if state government can make it easier for victims and witnesses of harassment to come forward and report harassment, harassment issues can be dealt with before they worsen or spread." [ 2019 c 349 s 1.]
FindingsIntentEffective date2018 c 109: See notes following RCW 29A.08.170.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 2009–2025 · leading case: Kitsap Cnty. Prosecuting Attorney's Guild v. Kitsap Cnty., 156 Wash. App. 110 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
Kitsap Cnty. Prosecuting Attorney's Guild v. Kitsap Cnty., 156 Wash. App. 110 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “See RCW 42.56.250. It is not clear to the County whether “town of residence” is included within the meaning of “residential address.”
Mechling v. City of Monroe, 222 P.3d 808 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “Further, that type of information is designated in RCW 42.56.250 (former RCW 42.17.310(1)(u) [)] as exempt from public inspection and copying.”
Mechling v. City of Monroe, 152 Wash. App. 830 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “Further, that type of information is designated in RCW 42.56.250 (former RCW 42.17.310(l)(u)[)] as exempt from public inspection and copying.”
Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth., 327 P.3d 600 (Wash. 2013). “240(6) (exempting the “statewide gang database”), and RCW 42.56.250(1) (exempting “[t]est questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination”), with RCW 42.”
DeLong v. Parmelee, 236 P.3d 936 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “See former RCW 42.56.250 (2006). The legislature did not include identification badge photographs in this list.”
Prosecuting Atty's Guild v. Kitsap Cnty., 231 P.3d 219 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “See RCW 42.56.250. It is not clear to the County whether "town of residence" is included within the meaning of "residential address.”
Jeff Zink, et ux v. City of Mesa, 419 P.3d 847 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “And so it’s—I’m going [to] stand by my original ruling, because it was part of a pattern of stubbornness on the part of the city, even faced with that memo 14 The exemption, presently codified at RCW 42.56.250(3), includes the “[r]esidential addresses” of agency employees that…”
Belenski v. Jefferson Cnty., 350 P.3d 689 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 5× “250 exempts some public employee records from public inspection and copying under the PRA and provides that the following records are exempt: (2) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with…”
Tye Sheats v. City of East Wenatchee, 431 P.3d 489 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 6× “RCW 42.56.250 provides in relevant part: The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: .”
Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. 2019). · cites it 21× “See former RCW 42.56.250 (2014). Some of these exemptions may be time limited.”
Wa Educ. Ass'n, V. Dept.of Ret. Sys. (Wash. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 20× “On June 11, 2020, while this appeal was pending, the state legislature amended RCW 42.56.250. See SECOND SUBSTITUTE H.B.”
Boardman v. Inslee, 354 F. Supp. 3d 1232 (W.D. Wash. 2019). “3 Based on the Court's examination of the text of RCW 42.56.250(4), "[r]esidential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal electronic mail addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of employees or…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(1) — 2 cases
Resident Action Council v. Seattle Hous. Auth., 327 P.3d 600 (Wash. 2013). “240(6) (exempting the “statewide gang database”), and RCW 42.56.250(1) (exempting “[t]est questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination”), with RCW 42.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(1)(f) — 3 cases
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(12) — 1 case
Green v. Pierce Cnty. (Wash. 2021).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(14)(e)(i) — 1 case
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(2) — 3 cases
Tye Sheats v. City of East Wenatchee, 431 P.3d 489 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 42.56.250 provides in relevant part: The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: .”
Belenski v. Jefferson Cnty., 350 P.3d 689 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). “250 exempts some public employee records from public inspection and copying under the PRA and provides that the following records are exempt: (2) All applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(3) — 8 cases
Kitsap Cnty. Prosecuting Attorney's Guild v. Kitsap Cnty., 156 Wash. App. 110 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “See RCW 42.56.250. It is not clear to the County whether “town of residence” is included within the meaning of “residential address.”
Mechling v. City of Monroe, 222 P.3d 808 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “Further, that type of information is designated in RCW 42.56.250 (former RCW 42.17.310(1)(u) [)] as exempt from public inspection and copying.”
Mechling v. City of Monroe, 152 Wash. App. 830 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “Further, that type of information is designated in RCW 42.56.250 (former RCW 42.17.310(l)(u)[)] as exempt from public inspection and copying.”
Jeff Zink, et ux v. City of Mesa, 419 P.3d 847 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “And so it’s—I’m going [to] stand by my original ruling, because it was part of a pattern of stubbornness on the part of the city, even faced with that memo 14 The exemption, presently codified at RCW 42.56.250(3), includes the “[r]esidential addresses” of agency employees that…”
Prosecuting Atty's Guild v. Kitsap Cnty., 231 P.3d 219 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “See RCW 42.56.250. It is not clear to the County whether "town of residence" is included within the meaning of "residential address.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(4) — 3 cases
Boardman v. Inslee, 354 F. Supp. 3d 1232 (W.D. Wash. 2019). “3 Based on the Court's examination of the text of RCW 42.56.250(4), "[r]esidential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal electronic mail addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of employees or…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(5) — 4 cases
Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. 2019). “See former RCW 42.56.250 (2014). Some of these exemptions may be time limited.”
Ron Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
Kamal Mahmoud, / V.snohomish Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(5)(2014) — 1 case
Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. 2019). “See former RCW 42.56.250 (2014). Some of these exemptions may be time limited.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(6) — 6 cases
Ron Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
Gipson v. Snohomish Cnty. (Wash. 2019). “See former RCW 42.56.250 (2014). Some of these exemptions may be time limited.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(8) — 4 cases
Wa Educ. Ass'n, V. Dept.of Ret. Sys. (Wash. Ct. App. 2022). “On June 11, 2020, while this appeal was pending, the state legislature amended RCW 42.56.250. See SECOND SUBSTITUTE H.B.”
Green v. Pierce Cnty. (Wash. 2021).
Cortland v. Pierce Cnty. (W.D. Wash. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 42.56.250(9) — 1 case
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