[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6345271,"mediaKeyId","2249445-1e7e70a04dd2cd3a22aa5f9f69426398","parentId",2249445,"title","Local Government panel reopens hearing on HB 1684 to update aquatic facility rules; health agencies support, industry stakeholders oppose","audioSeconds",1838,"startMs",0,"endMs",1838000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249445-1e7e70a04dd2cd3a22aa5f9f69426398&start=0&end=1838","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249445-1e7e70a04dd2cd3a22aa5f9f69426398/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345271/Washington/Local-Government-panel-reopens-hearing-on-HB-1684-to-update-aquatic-facility-rules-health-agencies-support-industry-stakeholders-oppose","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345271-1c019dd0ed4239b567e5d51a24746d13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143613&Signature=ovmhgBkYH0ynB59~uRyLFPIMoFMIJL6AplSKMGXb0coufssdS9fPFEft-PP4aYcDQhJDvmU5efDvy94oj6Cs7Av12teBP3g2zKLubY4gUqPq-PI~nteutksS-QUlc~xS-gXKbpVwgtD3KqypMm0eCAbPZaNNHTf2JzRxq7UOfZb-ih-AcMtpqYr3ODVw2nQWmnprzobdBfe0LXs3Yk9IwjdwYfDUDk2nh4UJVjAqkxM9Jjf4kMhD-GxgsbULOvD8bUy1wvTktN7-MQf4sx6eEyPC3q~Ejz8DJ1rQXV8YuojVd2~7AkUbZLPV1KxLL75fmHEHU90xcCM5DUTc3Sc-Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Local Government","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Washington State House Local Government Committee reopened a public hearing on House Bill 1684 to consider updates to state law that create the category “aquatic facilities,” extend safety and health standards to therapy pools, and give the State Board of Health authority to adopt rules affecting certain residential pools rented to nonresidents.

The bill’s supporters, including witnesses from the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Board of Health, said the measure updates an out-of-date statute and aligns state practice with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s model aquatic health code. “This bill updates our state statute with federal guidance via the model aquatic code from the CDC,” Joe Laxon, policy director for environmental health at the Washington Department of Health, told the committee. Laxon said the agency requests the bill and that it reflects a compromise reached after community workshops.

The Board of Health’s executive director, Michelle Davis, told the committee HB 1684 would reduce drowning risk by adopting best practices for aquatic venues. “Drowning is the leading cause nationwide among children ages 1 to 4,” Davis said. She said the bill would extend minimum health and safety requirements to therapy pools and allow the board to adopt targeted rules for pools at short-term rental properties.

What the bill would change
HB 1684 would modify definitions and regulatory language for existing water recreation statutes. Testimony summarized these elements:
- The statute would add the term aquatic facilities and establish aquatic venues as artificially constructed structures where the public is exposed to water for recreation or therapy, including swimming pools, spa pools, tubs (hot, cold or mineral), water slides, float tanks and cold plunges.
- Aquatic facilities would be required to carry liability coverage (testimony cited a $100,000 minimum or equivalent liability coverage).
- Sellers of aquatic venues would be required to provide purchasers operating instructions for safe use.
- The bill creates the category of residential aquatic facilities: aquatic facilities at a single-family dwelling that are used by renters or paying guests other than the resident and invited guests. Those residential aquatic facilities would be exempt from preconstruction design review, routine inspections, permitting, and fee requirements, although the State Board of Health may adopt minimum health and safety rules for them focused on drowning prevention, injury and recreational water illness.

Committee questions and answers
Committee members pressed staff and agency witnesses about how the bill would apply to therapeutic tubs, inflatable pools and pools made available through short-term rental platforms. Representative Stevie asked whether an inflatable pool would be covered; Michelle Davis said the intent is to cover recirculating therapeutic pools with filtration and turnover, not single-use inflatable pools that are drained after use. On short-term rentals, Davis described possible minimal standards the board could adopt through rulemaking, such as lifesaving equipment, signage listing the property address and emergency contact information, and access to restrooms.

Industry and platform opposition
A coalition of industry witnesses testified in opposition or expressed concern about the bill’s scope and process.
- Nick Strule, representing the Washington Realtors, said the legislation would “significantly expand authority to regulate single-family homes” through a broad invited-guest definition and criticized the lack of an earlier stakeholder process.
- Samantha Louderback, of the Washington Hospitality Association, said Section 5 could trigger permits and expensive upgrades when an owner modifies a facility, requiring owners to bring pools up to current code even for minor changes. She also urged parity for hotels and private clubs that already operate under Department of Health rules.
- Cameron Kilberg, head of legal for Swimply, said the bill’s definition could turn “every residential home in the state with a pool or hot tub public in many everyday circumstances” and criticized what he said was a lack of Washington-specific data justifying the change. Kilberg also said the CDC model aquatic code does not treat residential pools as commercial aquatic venues.
- TechNet and the Association of Washington Business urged a pause for more stakeholder work, saying residential hosts and small businesses could face burdensome costs and unclear rules.

What the record shows and next steps
Committee staff opened and closed the public hearing on HB 1684 during the session; no committee vote on HB 1684 was recorded in the transcript. Staff told the committee they will brief other bills (HB 1562 and HB 1600) before returning to executive action. Supporters framed the bill as a public-health update intended to reduce drowning and illness; opponents said the bill’s language and delegated rulemaking authority are too broad and asked for additional stakeholder engagement.

Ending
The Committee closed the public hearing on HB 1684 after testimony and questions. The committee did not vote on HB 1684 during the session captured in the transcript; staff indicated further briefings and a short caucus before additional action on other bills.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Local Government - 2/7/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Washington State House Local Government Committee reopened a public hearing on House Bill 1684 to consider updates to state law that create the category \"aquatic facilities,\" extend safety and health standards to therapy pools, and give the State Board of Health authority to adopt rules affecting certain residential pools rented to nonresidents.","taxTitle","Local Government, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20267,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345267,"Committee approves diaper-changing requirement and marriage-license fee increase; amendment raises renovation threshold",291,1849000,2140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249445-1e7e70a04dd2cd3a22aa5f9f69426398&start=1849&end=2140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249445-1e7e70a04dd2cd3a22aa5f9f69426398/thumbnail_1849000.jpg","/articles/6345267/Washington/Committee-approves-diaper-changing-requirement-and-marriage-license-fee-increase-amendment-raises-renovation-threshold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345267-87da69edea32d563786dbc25ccd1f087/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143613&Signature=mCyxGuSgtodXvogVutgibH9csB8IX0HSWdKZbfrnYzVWqquP31UdUDawIZ7r7LohjLJ-W2Y1fD9veS22gbvcm1Z~ACYMjb6rxe5Xzl3JRyokJYBxnZK6GpozqxLqYBfuMCo4k3xKrm-rz1mYAZGfImvYp0OEQnneQtA2n8PUzTTTpuE56Ijuxdhn4ciZ3NzikgsP7MknxvMW2tHR2SWetce92jOGooyAZutOxDzYgYgVJIK0e~YOIybaBeFVJJ8xVJt6FG-a04u-4ifjlfmacoWtvFOrOW80bo4t1IIC95a~bVbWG6gWWqjSjkl-WRSOQuIqk43n7SqXAnxQk5uWdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington State House Local Government Committee approved an amendment and reported two bills out of committee on the day’s agenda: substitute House Bill 1562 (baby diaper changing stations) was reported out with a due-pass recommendation after adoption of an amendment raising the renovation threshold; and House Bill 1600 (increase to the marriage-license fee) was reported out with a due-pass recommendation.

HB 1562 (diaper-changing stations)
The committee adopted an amendment (listed in the record as RIC 365, offered by Representative Hunt) that raises the dollar threshold for a public-restroom renovation or remodel that would trigger a diaper-changing station requirement from $10,000 to $15,000. Representative Hunt said the change responds to stakeholder concerns that construction costs have risen and that raising the threshold will ease the burden on businesses while advancing accessibility. After adopting the amendment, the committee incorporated it into a substitute and voted to report substitute House Bill 1562 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee staff recorded the final tally as 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent.

What the bill requires
Substitute House Bill 1562 would require a baby diaper changing station in both a restroom accessible to women and a restroom accessible to men, or in a general/neutral restroom, in certain public buildings, and would require the feature in each newly constructed public building. The adopted amendment raises the financial trigger for when remodels must include the stations from $10,000 to $15,000.

HB 1600 (marriage-license fee increase)
Vice Chair Barshley moved that House Bill 1600 be reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and debated briefly. Opponents on the record expressed concern about incremental fee increases; supporters said the fee had not risen since the 1990s and the additional revenue would support family services. A roll-call vote was recorded with the following results: Representative Duer — aye; Representative Parsley — aye; Representative Clicker — nay (recorded as \"nay without recommendation\"); Representative Stebe — aye; Representative Griffey — aye; Representative Hunt — aye; Representative Zahn — aye. The staff tally recorded 6 ayes, 1 nay. By that vote, House Bill 1600 was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

Votes at a glance
- Substitute HB 1562 (diaper-changing stations), as amended by RIC 365 (Rep. Hunt): reported out with a due-pass recommendation; recorded tally 7 ayes, 0 nays. Amendment adopted by voice vote.
- HB 1600 (increase marriage-license fee from $15 to $30): reported out with a due-pass recommendation; recorded tally 6 ayes, 1 nay (Representative Clicker recorded as nay without recommendation).

Context and next steps
Committee staff briefed both bills during the session; HB 1562 had previously been discussed and stakeholders were engaged in drafting the amendment, according to Representative Hunt. Both bills were sent out of committee with due-pass recommendations and will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.

Ending
The committee adjourned after reporting both bills out; staff instructed members to drive safely and reconvene on the committee’s next scheduled date.","The Local Government Committee adopted an amendment to HB 1562 raising the renovation threshold that triggers diaper-changing station requirements and reported both HB 1562 (diaper stations) and HB 1600 (marriage-license fee increase) out of committee with due-pass recommendations.","actionData","errors"]

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Local Government panel reopens hearing on HB 1684 to update aquatic facility rules; health agencies support, industry stakeholders oppose

Committee approves diaper-changing requirement and marriage-license fee increase; amendment raises renovation threshold