SB 5925 — Concerning the general powers and duties of the attorney general’s office.

ENGROSSEDZ-0546.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5925 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Hansen, Lovick, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Nobles, Pedersen, and Stanford;

by request of Attorney General)General READPrefiled FIRST12/22/25. TIME 02/04/26.

Read first time 01/12/26.

Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

(1) The attorney general may issue written civil investigative demands for documents, oral testimony, and answers to written interrogatories when factsinvestigating and circumstances would reasonably lead to possible violations of the United States Constitution, Washington state Constitution, RCW 10.93.16010.93.160, 10.118.030, 10.120.020, and 43.10.315, and chapters 10.116, 39.12, 49.46, 49.48, 49.52, 49.60, and 70.48 RCW,RCW. as reviewed and approved by an assistant attorney general in the division conducting the investigation.

(i) May be in possession, custody, or control of any original or copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, or other tangible document or recording, wherever situate, which he or she believes to be relevant to the subject matter of an investigation p.of a possible violation of state or federal law under subsection (1) of this section;

1 ESSB 5925 of a possible violation of state or federalp. law under subsection (1) of this section;

or1 SB 5925 (ii) May have knowledge of any information which the attorney general believes relevant to the subject matter of such an investigation, he or she may, prior to the institution of a civil proceeding thereon, execute in writing and cause to be served upon such a person, a civil investigative demand requiring such person or entity to produce such documentary material and permit inspection and copying, to answer in writing written interrogatories, to give oral testimony, or any combination of such demands pertaining to such documentary material or information.

(b) This section is not applicable to criminal investigations or prosecutions.

p.(a) Delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served, or, if such person is not a natural person, to any officer or managing agent of the entity to be served;

2 ESSB 5925 (a) Delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the person to be served, or, if such person is not a natural person, to any officer or managingp. agent of the entity to be served;

or2 SB 5925 (b) Delivering a duly executed copy thereof to the principal place of business in this state of the person or entity to be served;

(7) If, after prior court approval, a civil investigative demand specifically prohibits disclosure of the existence or content of the demand, unless otherwise ordered by a superior court for good cause shown, it shall be a misdemeanor for any person or entity if not a bank, trust company, mutual savings bank, credit union, or savings and loan association organized under the laws of the United States or of any one of the United States to disclose to any other person or entity the existence or content of the demand, except for disclosure p.

3 ESSBSB 5925 and loan association organized under the laws of the United States or of any one of the United States to disclose to any other person or entity the existence or content of the demand, except for disclosure to counsel for the recipient of the demand or unless otherwise required by law.

(ii) ConsistentThe with RCW 43.17.425, the attorney general may provide copies of such documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony to an official of this state, the federal government, or other state, who is charged with the enforcement of federal or state laws, if before the disclosure the receiving official agrees in writing that the information may not be disclosed to anyone other than that official or the official's authorized employees.

The material provided under this subsection (8)(b)(ii) is subject to the confidentiality restrictions set forth in this section and may not be introduced as evidence in a criminal investigation or prosecution.

(c) ConsistentThe with RCW 43.17.425, the attorney general or any assistant attorney general may use such copies of documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony as he or she determines necessary in the enforcement of federal or state law, including presentation before any court.

However, any such material, answers to written interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony which contain trade secrets shall not be presented except with the approval of the court in which action is p.pending after adequate notice to the person or entity furnishing such material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony.

4(9) ESSBAt 5925any pendingtime afterbefore adequatethe noticereturn todate specified in the persondemand, or entitywithin furnishing20 suchdays material,after answersthe todemand writtenhas interrogatories,been orserved, oralwhichever testimony.period p.

(9)4 AtSB any5925 time before the return date specified in the demand, or within 30 days after the demand has been served, whichever period is shorter, a petition to extend the return date for, or to modify or set aside a demand issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, stating good cause, may be filed in the superior court for Thurston county, or in such other county where the parties reside.

p.(11) This section does not supersede or displace the authority of the attorney general related to civil investigative demands under other statutes.

5 ESSB 5925 (11) This section does not supersede or displace the authority of the attorney general related to civil investigative demands under other statutes.

65 ESSBSB 5925