WA HB2440

Amends RCW 43.06B.040 to strengthen confidentiality protections for records maintained by the Office of the Education Ombuds, including identifying information of students, complainants, and other individuals involved in complaints.

Exempts complaint-related records and files from public disclosure under Washington's Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW) and shields identifying information from subpoena, discovery, or other compulsory legal process.

Permits disclosure of identifying information only with written consent from the affected individual, or in response to legislative subpoenas or gubernatorial requests related to investigations of ombuds misconduct or neglect of duty.

Requires the education ombuds to provide complainants access to their own complaint records upon written request, with redaction of other individuals' identifying information and legally privileged content.

Allows the office to share deidentified data with the education data center (RCW 43.41.400) and defines "identifying information" as data that could reasonably enable someone in the school community to identify a specific individual.