This bill creates a new state program and a new chapter in Title 59 RCW and adds a new section to chapter 59.18 RCW establishing a state senior independent housing ombuds. It requires all senior independent housing facilities to register annually with the Department of Commerce, directs the department to adopt a registration form and fee by rule, and creates a senior independent housing account in the state treasury to receive fee revenue that may be spent only after appropriation. The department must create and maintain a statewide database tracking senior independent housing unit inventory, including numbers of occupied and vacant units, and may contract with a private nonprofit to provide ombuds services. The bill sets out powers, duties, training and experience requirements, and certain disqualifications for the ombuds, requires providers to post ombuds contact information in each building, directs the ombuds office to develop referral and right-of-entry procedures, and establishes confidentiality, immunity, and privilege protections for ombuds communications and for persons who provide information to the ombuds in good faith. It also requires a statewide uniform reporting system for complaints and conditions and sets rules for access to and disclosure of ombuds files. Procedurally, the Department of Commerce may adopt rules to implement the chapter. The bill declares that violations of this chapter by a senior independent housing landlord with respect to a senior independent housing tenant are unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the consumer protection act (chapter 19.86 RCW). The text of section 12 is incomplete in the provided material, and the full placement, numbering, and any additional confidentiality, enforcement, or penalty details that may appear after the cut-off are not available in the extracted facts.

If enacted, the state will create a dedicated senior independent housing ombuds office run through the Department of Commerce, funded by an annual registration fee that each senior independent housing facility must pay and by appropriations from a dedicated account. Providers will have a new recurring administrative duty to register each year and to post ombuds contact information in every building, and the department will contract with private nonprofit(s) to operate ombuds services, set the registration form and fee by rule, and establish statewide complaint, reporting, and referral procedures so residents have a formal channel for problems and the state tracks unit inventory. The most affected parties are senior independent housing providers, who will face new ongoing costs, recordkeeping, and posting requirements and greater legal exposure because landlord violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the consumer protection act; the Department of Commerce will take on rulemaking, contracting, and oversight responsibilities; private nonprofits may gain contract work; and residents will likely see more formal complaint handling and confidentiality protections. Important specifics such as exact fee amounts, detailed enforcement processes, and the incomplete confidentiality provisions are not provided in the extracted text.