Hello, Tacoma! 

I'm very pleased to share that the Department of Health is developing draft rule language to set operational standards for private detention facilities and set health and safety standards for detained persons. This work started with Second Substitute House Bill 1470 and continued with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1232, both of which the Tacoma City Council supported and spoke in favor of during the legislative session. I'm proud to share my testimony here: House Appropriations - TVW (starting at 10:30), Senate Human Services - TVW (starting at 30:28); and Senate Human Services - TVW (starting at 1:05:13).

For the last three years, I have been participating in the Department of Health stakeholder committee as the City of Tacoma representative to draft these rules because we know how important dignity is for those in our immigration detention system. For more information on the City Council’s work on immigration, please visit: Immigration Resources | City of Tacoma.

This is your chance to suggest changes, ask questions, or share your ideas! Your feedback will help shape the rule before it’s opened for formal public comment. The informal comment period ends on Thursday July 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

How to Provide Comments

You may provide written feedback on the draft rule through the following ways:

1) Send an email to privatedetentionfacilities@doh.wa.gov.

2) Send via mail to:

Department of Health

PO Box 47820

Olympia, WA 98504-7820

You can provide your edits using Track Changes in Word. To do so, open the Word document (in English or in Spanish) and follow these steps:

• Go to the “Review” tab.
• Select “Track Changes” from the drop-down arrow in the “Tracking” section.
• Make your edits and watch them appear as colored text.
• When finished, save the document as [Last Name, First Name] Chapter 246-385 WAC_Draft
• Send the draft to privatedetentionfacilities@doh.wa.gov by the July 2^nd deadline.

Project Background

In 2023, the Washington state legislature passed Second Substitute House Bill 1470 (2SHB 1470) (chapter 419, Laws of 2023). This bill required the department to develop rules to set operational, health, and safety standards for private detention facilities in the state. The department filed a CR-101, Preproposal Statement of Inquiry, for this rulemaking project on November 13, 2023.

In 2025, the legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1232 (E2SHB 1232) (chapter 235, Laws of 2025). This bill amended RCW 70.395.100 to also include private detention facilities that serve juveniles. This bill also made changes to the list of topics the department is required to write rules for.

This draft integrates components from current standards, including various chapters of the Washington Administrative Code and relevant Department of Health guidelines, as well as initial input from a rules advisory committee, technical experts, and focus group discussions with youth who are impacted by incarceration and youth advocates.

You can find more information about this rulemaking on the private detention facilities rulemaking webpage.

For questions about this rulemaking, please contact Kseniya Efremova, Rules Coordinator, at privatedetentionfacilities@doh.wa.gov.

You can find more City updates and resources on our website at tacoma.gov.

I also invite you to tune in to the City Council’s Study Session or City Council meetings every week on Tuesdays via TV Tacoma or Zoom. Access information is available at tacoma.gov/councilmeetings.

I hope you will reach out to me with any questions. I can be reached at: KWalker@tacoma.gov.

Council Member Kristina Walker