SHB 1684
In CommitteeHouse
Water recreation facilities
Concerning water recreation facilities.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill updates Washington’s regulations for public water recreation facilities by expanding definitions, strengthening safety and insurance requirements, and streamlining permitting processes. It updates rules for pools, spas, water slides, and newer venues like float tanks, while exempting small residential and temporary uses. The changes aim to improve public health protection and reduce regulatory duplication.
- Expands the definition of 'aquatic facility' and 'aquatic venue' to include a broader range of water-based recreation spaces (e.g., float tanks, cold plunges, water lagoons), while excluding livestock/water storage uses.
- Requires the State Board of Health to adopt updated health and safety rules for all water recreation facilities—including design, operation, inspections, water quality, and reporting—and to consider the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code.
- Mandates liability insurance (or equivalent coverage) of at least $1,000,000 for public aquatic facilities, replacing the previous $100,000 requirement.
- Streamlines permitting: requires plan review and permit decisions within 30 days, and prohibits duplicate state/local applications or fees for the same facility.
- Exempts single-family residential facilities, residential communities with fewer than 15 units, and certain temporary inflatable attractions (e.g., bounce houses) from permitting, inspections, and fees.
- Requires sellers of pools, spas, and tubs to provide clear safety instructions—including specific warnings about risks of hot/cold water exposure during pregnancy.
Who is affected
- Aquatic facility owners and operators — Facility owners and operators must obtain permits, follow new design/operation rules, and carry liability insurance ($1 million minimum) to operate aquatic facilities open to the public.
- Local public health agencies and officers — Local health officers and local public health agencies will implement and enforce water recreation rules, including inspections, permits, and fee collection.
- Washington State Department of Health — State Department of Health staff will oversee rulemaking, plan review, and enforcement, and may coordinate with local jurisdictions.
- General public using water recreation facilities — Families and individuals using public or commercial aquatic venues (e.g., pools, water slides, spas) benefit from updated safety, sanitation, and water quality standards.
- Aquatic venue equipment manufacturers and sellers — Manufacturers and sellers of pools, spas, and tubs must provide updated safety instructions—including warnings about hot/cold water risks during pregnancy—to buyers.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Mandates updated health and safety rules—including adoption of CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code—covering water quality, contamination, and injury reporting, directly improving protection for everyday users of public pools, splash pads, and float tanks against illness and injury.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1) (RCW 70.90.120 as amended)Streamlines permitting by requiring decisions within 30 days and prohibits duplicate state/local applications or fees, reducing bureaucratic delays and administrative costs for small operators seeking to open or modify facilities—benefiting community-based businesses and nonprofits.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 5(3) (RCW 70.90.160 as amended)Exempts single-family residential facilities, residential communities with <15 units, and temporary inflatable attractions (e.g., bounce houses) from permitting and fees, reducing regulatory burden on low- and middle-income households and event vendors—aligning regulation with actual risk (e.g., low public exposure).
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1) (RCW 70.90.120 as amended)Requires sellers to provide clear warnings about hot/cold water risks during pregnancy, improving consumer awareness and reducing preventable health complications—particularly beneficial for pregnant Washingtonians who may not otherwise receive targeted safety guidance.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 7 (RCW 70.90.240 as amended)Raises liability insurance minimum from $100,000 to $1 million, better aligning coverage with actual injury costs and ensuring victims of facility-related harm can receive meaningful compensation—especially important for catastrophic injuries (e.g., drowning, spinal trauma).
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 6 (RCW 70.90.230 as amended)
Potential Concerns (5)
Mandates $1 million liability insurance for all public aquatic facilities, significantly increasing operational costs for small operators (e.g., community centers, small swim schools, pop-up float tank operators) that may not generate sufficient revenue to absorb the added expense—especially since many cannot pass costs to consumers without losing business.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 6 (RCW 70.90.230 as amended)Requires local health jurisdictions to implement permitting, inspections, and enforcement without specifying state funding—shifting administrative and staffing burdens to local governments, which may strain already limited public health resources, especially in rural or under-resourced counties.
Local GovernmentIndustryRef: Sec. 4 (RCW 70.90.150 as amended)Mandates specific pregnancy-related warnings on pool/spa/tub sales instructions, increasing compliance costs for manufacturers and retailers (especially small sellers) who must revise packaging, labeling, and training—though the requirement is narrow, it adds regulatory friction to a broad class of consumer goods.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 7 (RCW 70.90.240 as amended)Exempts only residential communities with fewer than 15 units from permitting, but excludes short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb-style properties) and does not address shared housing models (e.g., co-living, ADUs), potentially creating uneven regulatory burdens across housing types and leaving some low-income residents in unregulated facilities.
HousingRef: Sec. 2(1) (RCW 70.90.120 as amended)30-day permit review deadline may pressure local health departments to rush inspections or approve substandard plans to avoid liability, potentially compromising public health outcomes—especially where staffing or technical capacity is limited.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 5(3) (RCW 70.90.160 as amended)
Who Is Most Affected
Small operators (e.g., community centers, pop-up float tanks, local swim schools) face higher insurance and permitting costs but benefit from streamlined permitting and clearer safety standards that reduce liability risk—net effect is mixed, with pressure on thin-margin operations.
Local health agencies gain authority but face unfunded mandates for inspections and enforcement—especially burdensome in rural counties with limited staff, potentially reducing capacity for other public health priorities.
State Department of Health gains rulemaking authority and fee-collecting ability, but must coordinate with local jurisdictions—net effect is neutral to slightly positive for capacity building, though fiscal sustainability depends on fee adequacy.
General public benefits significantly from updated safety standards, clearer warnings, and faster facility approvals—especially low-income and family users who rely on public pools and newer venues like float tanks.
Manufacturers and sellers face new labeling requirements but operate under consistent statewide rules—net effect is slightly negative due to compliance costs, especially for small retailers and online sellers.