The bill adds a new section to chapter 72.09 RCW that prohibits placing an inmate in a correctional facility that primarily houses persons of a different biological sex than the inmate when the inmate has a prior conviction for a sex offense (as defined in RCW 9.94A.030) against a victim whose biological sex matches the primary population of that facility. This is a new statutory placement rule affecting state correctional housing decisions; it creates a procedural restriction on where certain inmates may be housed rather than changing criminal penalties. The bill text as provided cites RCW 9.94A.030 for the definition of "sex offense" and uses the terms "inmate," "correctional facility," and "biological sex" without defining them in the excerpt. It does not specify an effective date, enforcement mechanism, administrative responsibility, penalties, whether it applies retroactively, or whether it covers local jails, juvenile facilities, or other custody settings. The bill was prefiled 12/10/24, read for the first time 01/13/25, and referred to the Committee on Community Safety.

If enacted, the Department of Corrections would have to screen inmates’ criminal histories for convictions listed in RCW 9.94A.030 and avoid placing any such person in a prison population whose primary biological sex matches that of the victim in the prior sex offense. In practice this is likely to reduce placement options for those inmates, require additional transfers or reassignments to other facilities, and could increase housing costs and logistical burdens (for example, moving inmates, managing capacity imbalances, and adjusting intake procedures). The people most affected are the state correctional system (which would bear new operational responsibilities and likely costs) and inmates with qualifying sex‑offense convictions (whose housing options would be restricted). The bill leaves key details unclear—there is no definition of “primarily houses,” no implementation date, no enforcement mechanism, and no stated coverage of local jails or retroactivity—so how agencies must carry out or budget for these changes is uncertain.