House Bill 2493 (69th Legislature, 2026) adds new sections to chapter 7.69 RCW and amends RCW 70.125.030, RCW 70.125.110, and RCW 43.10.801 to create several victim‑centered, trauma‑informed procedural changes. It authorizes, at the prosecutor’s or plaintiff’s request, a court to appoint a representative to conduct direct questioning of a victim in sexual assault or domestic violence cases when the defendant is proceeding pro se; that representative may only ask questions the defendant submits and courts must allow reasonable recesses for the defendant to submit written follow‑up questions. It also allows any minor age 13 or older to consent to a forensic examination for evidence gathering in prosecutions involving nonfatal strangulation. The bill expands and clarifies definitions used in the sexual assault services statutes and enlarges the statutory rights of sexual violence survivors, including a no‑cost medical forensic exam, written notice about the exam and possible crime victim compensation, access to accredited community sexual assault programs or child‑specific protocols for minors, continuous access to an advocate during investigation and prosecution (subject to limits while testifying), specified rights and procedures relating to sexual assault kit preservation, notification at least 60 days before intended destruction, free copies of police reports, review of statements before law enforcement referral to prosecutors, timely status notifications, interpreter services, and special procedural safeguards for minors. Survivors denied these rights may petition the superior court in the county where the assault occurred for an expedited order directing compliance; the petition’s sole remedy is compliance. The bill states limits on creating new causes of action or civil liability against the state and preserves other civil remedies and defenses. The bill (re)establishes within the attorney general’s office a SAFE advisory group to research and recommend best practices, increase access to sexual assault forensic examiner services, monitor evidence kit testing and supply chains, monitor implementation of legislative changes, collaborate with state and local entities, and make annual reports to the legislature and governor by December 15. The attorney general’s office administers and staffs the group, which must meet at least twice a year, provides specified reimbursement rules for members, and includes a sunset date of July 1, 2028. The text in the provided materials is incomplete: specific section numbers for the new chapter 7.69 additions, the full SAFE advisory group membership list and appointment details, and any funding, enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or effective dates are not included.

If enacted, people who survive sexual assault would get clearer, enforceable rights: a free medical forensic exam, written notice about that exam and possible victim compensation, referrals to accredited community programs (and special protocols for minors), access to advocates during investigations, interpreter services, a free copy of the police report, the ability to ask for continued preservation of their sexual assault kit at no charge, and at least 60 days’ written notice before a kit is destroyed. Minors age 13 and older could consent to a forensic exam in prosecutions for nonfatal strangulation in domestic violence cases. These changes are likely to increase workload for hospitals, forensic examiners, community sexual assault programs, law enforcement, and prosecutors because they must provide exams, notifications, referrals, advocate access, kit preservation, and timely status updates; survivors denied rights can seek an expedited court order to force compliance. The bill does not show where the money will come from, so it is uncertain who will absorb the added costs of no-cost exams and longer kit storage. Courts and prosecutors face new courtroom duties: judges must, when asked by a prosecutor or plaintiff, appoint a representative to conduct direct questioning of a victim for pro se defendants (limited to questions submitted by the defendant) and allow reasonable recesses so defendants can submit written follow-ups, which may lengthen proceedings and create modest staffing or administrative costs. The attorney general’s office will staff a new SAFE advisory group that includes law enforcement, health providers, advocates, survivors, and others to study and recommend improvements (including monitoring forensic kit supply chains); the group must meet at least twice a year, report annually through July 1, 2028, and members get travel reimbursement, so the AG’s office and participating agencies will have added coordination and modest travel/staff costs. Important details about funding, full membership, timing, and enforcement mechanisms are not included in the extracted text.