SB 6133
In CommitteeSenate
Address confid./ALJs & OAH
Concerning participation in the address confidentiality program by administrative law judges and staff employed by the office of administrative hearings.
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 expands Washington’s Address Confidentiality Program to include administrative law judges and staff employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings who face threats or harassment in their official roles. It amends existing law to ensure these public servants can keep their home addresses confidential to protect their safety.
- Adds administrative law judges and staff employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to the list of people eligible for the Address Confidentiality Program.
- Clarifies that eligibility applies to those in positions appointed under RCW 34.12.030 (which includes ALJs and other hearing officers) who are targeted for threats or harassment under state anti-harassment laws.
- Requires applicants to submit sworn statements confirming they face credible threats or harassment, and to provide their actual address only to the Secretary of State (not publicly).
- Allows participants to direct the Department of Licensing to update vehicle, vessel, driver’s license, and identicard records to use a confidential address instead of their real one.
- Maintains the existing four-year certification period and renewal process, with no change to penalties for false applications.
Who is affected
- Administrative law judges and OAH staff — Administrative law judges (ALJs) and staff employed by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) who face threats or harassment in their official capacity may now apply for address confidentiality to protect their safety.
- Election officials — Election officials who are targeted for threats or harassment due to their official duties can continue to apply for and receive address confidentiality protection.
- Health care providers and their family members — Individuals who provide or assist in providing reproductive or other protected health care services—and their family members—can apply for address confidentiality to shield their home addresses from abusers or harassers.
- Criminal justice participants — Criminal justice participants (e.g., victims, witnesses, informants) who face threats or harassment may continue to use the program to keep their addresses confidential.
- Survivors of violence and their families — Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or stalking (and their minor or incapacitated dependents) remain eligible to apply for address confidentiality.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Directly enhances the physical safety of administrative law judges and OAH staff by allowing them to conceal their residential addresses from the public and replace them with a confidential address for driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, and other state-issued credentials—reducing risk of harassment, stalking, or violence stemming from their official duties.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, subsection (1)(e) and (a)(i)(E); subsection (4)(a)-(d)Provides a proven, low-risk protective mechanism—already used for election officials, health care providers, and survivors—by leveraging existing infrastructure (Secretary of State’s Address Confidentiality Program) to shield public servants from targeted threats without creating new bureaucracy.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, subsection (1)(e) and (a)(i)(E); subsection (4)(a)-(d)Standardizes eligibility criteria and verification procedures for all covered groups, reducing arbitrary discretion and ensuring consistent protection for ALJs and OAH staff through sworn statements and four-year certification with renewal oversight.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, subsection (1)(e) and (a)(i)(E); subsection (3)
Potential Concerns (1)
Expanding eligibility to administrative law judges and OAH staff increases the administrative burden on the Secretary of State’s office to verify eligibility and process applications, potentially slowing processing for other vulnerable groups (e.g., domestic violence survivors) if staffing is not increased.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, subsection (1)(e) and (a)(i)(E)
Who Is Most Affected
ALJs and OAH staff who face credible threats or harassment due to their adjudicative roles gain direct safety benefits through confidential address substitution, especially in cases involving high-stakes hearings (e.g., disability appeals, immigration cases, child welfare).
The Secretary of State’s office will administer the expanded program using existing resources; minimal fiscal impact is expected, but increased application volume could strain current staffing if not offset by additional support.
While not directly affected by eligibility changes, survivors and other program participants benefit from strengthened program legitimacy and precedent—expanding the program reinforces its importance and may improve public understanding of its purpose.
Election officials and health care providers already covered under the program see no change in eligibility, but the bill’s expansion reinforces the program’s scope and legitimacy, potentially improving interagency coordination.
Courts and state agencies that rely on ALJs may benefit indirectly from reduced staff turnover or absenteeism due to safety concerns, supporting continuity and impartiality in administrative adjudication.