The Human and Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) released its inaugural 2025-2026 annual report, highlighting ongoing efforts to achieve King County's equity goals and ensure all residents are treated fairly and justly. 

"King County is committed to being an inclusive, welcoming place for all people – regardless of their race, religion, gender, or ability,” said Executive Girmay Zahilay. “At a time when our federal government is attacking civil rights, HCRC is working to ensure we are advancing equity, fairness, and justice in King County and uplifting the voices of communities who have not historically had a seat at the table in decision-making processes. 

Launched in 2025, HCRC is an independent, community-led commission that consists of 11 members. The commission advises county government on implementing policies that advance human and civil rights. 

Key duties of the commission include engaging with historically disadvantaged groups to inform County decisions, recommending ways to strengthen anti-discrimination efforts, and monitoring policy impacts to ensure fairness for marginalized communities. 

HCRC builds on decades of the county’s equity work, evolving from the 1976 King County Affirmative Action Committee, which then became the Civil Rights Commission in 1995. 

The report outlines key partnerships built in the commission’s first year and priorities for the year ahead, including creating opportunities to hear directly from historically disadvantaged communities, reviewing the Civil Rights Program including ADA and Section 504 compliance, and exploring methods to strengthen enforcement of civil rights laws to ensure consistent protection across the county. 

“The Human and Civil Rights Commission's work is grounded in ensuring that every person in King County is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect, while helping foster a community where all residents can thrive,” said HCRC Co-Chairs Jennifer Karls and Daisy Wong. “As Co-Chairs, we recognize the responsibility to support policies and initiatives that advance equity, accountability, accessibility, and inclusion, particularly for historically marginalized communities. We look forward to helping guide the Commission’s annual reporting and recommendations to the Executive and Council to strengthen civil and human rights protections and support meaningful progress across County government.” 

Read the full report here.