WA SB 6280 (2020, first-in-nation state FR-government law)
Washington SB 6280 — State and Local Government Facial Recognition Regulation (Original 2020)
WA · RCW Ch. 43.386 (SB 6280, 2020)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2021
- Applies to
- Washington state and local government agencies
- Enforced by
- Internal agency oversight + courts (private right of action under §43.386.080)
Washington SB 6280 (signed March 31, 2020) was the first U.S. state law expressly regulating state and local government use of facial recognition. It requires accountability reports, public notice, warrant requirements for ongoing surveillance, and independent testing for accuracy and bias. Codified at RCW Ch. 43.386. Still in effect 2026.
Who is protected: Washington residents subject to government facial recognition
Legal detail
SB 6280 (2020 Reg. Sess.), RCW Ch. 43.386 — requires a state or local government agency that intends to deploy a facial recognition service to (1) file a notice of intent with its legislative authority, (2) produce a publicly available accountability report covering data types, security, training data, and impact on civil rights/liberties, (3) obtain a warrant for ongoing surveillance, (4) ensure independent third-party testing for accuracy disparities by race, gender, and skin tone, (5) ensure meaningful human review for decisions producing legal effect. Effective July 1, 2021.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | WA |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | March 31, 2020 |
| Citation | RCW Ch. 43.386 (SB 6280, 2020) |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Injunctive and declaratory relief; reasonable costs and attorneys' fees |
| Topics | facial recognition · biometric data · police and surveillance AI · government use of AI |
| Statute | SB 6280 — Washington State Legislature |
More AI rules in WA
- HB2655 · Expired
- WA EO 24-01 · In effect
- WA Biometric Identifiers Act (2017) · In effect
- WA DOI AI Bulletin · In effect
Related facial recognition rules elsewhere
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Bristol VA PD facial recognition program (first VA local agency) · In effect
- Dallas PD Clearview AI facial recognition policy · In effect
- Ban biometric recognition in public accommodations (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Limit facial recognition in residential buildings (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Texas v. Google · In effect
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