WA HB1604

Local jail administrators must develop policies for searching transgender and intersex individuals that comply with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (34 U.S.C. Sec. 30301) as it existed on January 1, 2025

Searches or physical examinations solely to determine an individual's genital status are prohibited; genital status may only be determined through conversation, medical records, or as part of a broader private medical examination

Strip searches of transgender or intersex individuals must offer options including: search by medical professional only, search by female staff only, allowing the individual to choose the gender of staff conducting the search, or search conducted according to stated gender identity

Jails must implement policies ensuring individuals can shower, use restrooms, and change clothing without opposite-gender nonmedical staff viewing their bodies, except in exigent circumstances or routine cell checks

Local jails must adopt compliant standards by September 1, 2025; lack of available trained female staff does not constitute an exigent circumstance justifying a cross-gender search