HB 2252
In CommitteeHouse
State historical records
Concerning the preservation and inspection of state historical records.
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 requires state agencies to create a preservation plan for historical records and artifacts from Lakeland Village, including digitization and long-term storage, and to ensure no records are destroyed before fiscal year 2030. It also changes state archives rules to automatically open restricted records to the public 75 years after creation, regardless of original confidentiality rules.
- Create a preservation plan for historical documents and artifacts from Lakeland Village, a state facility for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including medical records, letters, images, films, and artifacts.
- Assess the condition and preservation needs of the records, and outline steps for storage, handling, transport, restoration, cataloguing, digitization, and microfilming.
- Set a September 1, 2025 deadline for reporting the preservation plan to the legislature, and require a timeline and budget for the work.
- Prohibit destruction of Lakeland Village records until fiscal year 2030, ensuring they are preserved before any disposal.
- Limit indirect costs for the University of Washington to 15 percent of project funds.
- Amend RCW 40.14.030 to require that restricted public records (confidential, privileged, or exempt) transferred to the state archives become publicly accessible 75 years after creation, unless a shorter restriction period is specified and approved.
Who is affected
- State agencies and academic partners — The division of archives and records management, the University of Washington institute on human development and disability, the department of social and health services, and the department of archaeology and historic preservation will collaborate on identifying, preserving, and managing Lakeland Village records and artifacts.
- Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (past residents and families) — Past residents of Lakeland Village and their families may gain greater access to historical records related to their time at the facility, especially as records become accessible after 75 years.
- Researchers and educators — Researchers, historians, educators, and students will benefit from preserved and digitized historical materials for study, teaching, and public education.
- General public — The public will have increased access to historically significant state records, including those previously restricted, once they are 75 years old or declassified.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Digitizing and preserving sensitive historical records—including medical records and personal correspondence—reduces risk of irreversible loss and ensures long-term availability for accountability, redress, and historical truth-telling, especially for vulnerable populations.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(2)(c)Automatic public access to restricted records after 75 years strengthens transparency and historical accountability, enabling individuals and families to access information about their own lives or ancestors—even when original confidentiality was imposed under outdated or coercive institutional practices.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2Preserved and digitized materials will support research, teaching, and public education on disability history, institutional care, and civil rights— enriching K-12 and university curricula and fostering inclusive civic education.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3), Sec. 2Prohibiting destruction of Lakeland Village records until FY 2030 prevents premature loss of evidence that could be critical for future investigations into historical mistreatment, abuse, or systemic failures at state facilities.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)The project creates demand for archival, digitization, and preservation services—supporting jobs at the University of Washington, state archives staff, and potentially local contractors—while limiting overhead ensures more funds go directly to preservation work.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(c), Sec. 1(5)
Potential Concerns (5)
Delaying destruction of records until FY 2030 may increase risk of data loss or degradation if records remain in substandard storage conditions during the interim period, potentially compromising integrity of sensitive historical data before digitization is complete.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)Capping University of Washington indirect costs at 15% may reduce institutional participation incentives, especially if project overhead exceeds this threshold, potentially limiting academic rigor or scope of preservation work.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)Mandating automatic public access to previously restricted records after 75 years may conflict with original privacy expectations of individuals (e.g., patients, families) who provided information under confidentiality assurances, potentially undermining trust in public institutions.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 2The requirement for a detailed budget and timeline may impose administrative burden on state agencies and academic partners, diverting staff time and resources from other archival priorities.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(d)While the bill aims to preserve Lakeland Village records, it does not require or fund associated educational outreach (e.g., curriculum development, public programming), limiting potential impact on student learning despite preserved materials.
EducationRef: Sec. 1(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Past residents and their families gain unprecedented access to personal and family records that were previously sealed, enabling truth-seeking, healing, and historical recognition—though some may experience emotional distress upon learning about institutional harm.
Researchers and historians gain access to a newly preserved and digitized corpus of disability history, enabling rigorous scholarship and public education; however, some may face challenges interpreting records without contextual support or community input.
State agencies (e.g., DSHS, Archives Division) gain new responsibilities and potential funding for archival work, but must divert staff time and budget to meet deadlines; UW faces constraints on indirect costs that may affect research flexibility.
The general public benefits from increased transparency and access to historically significant records, especially those related to marginalized communities; however, some may be uncomfortable with access to sensitive personal information (e.g., medical histories) without redaction.