Legislation requiring federal immigration agents to obtain judicial authorization before entering nonpublic areas of schools, health care facilities, and other sensitive sites has cleared the Washington State Senate, according to reporting by Washington State Standard. Senate Bill 5906, approved on Thursday, outlines new restrictions intended to protect students, patients, and workers from immigration enforcement activities conducted without court oversight.

The bill applies to preschools, K‑12 schools, health facilities, adult family homes, higher education institutions, and county election offices, classifying portions of these locations as “nonpublic areas.” Under SB 5906, immigration enforcement personnel would be barred from entering these areas without a valid judicial warrant or court order. The legislation also prohibits early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about the immigration status of students or their families.

State legislative records confirm these provisions. The Senate Bill Report outlines that early learning providers and school districts may not allow immigration enforcement officers into nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant or court order, and that they must notify union representatives when an employee is subject to enforcement activity. These details are documented in the official bill report available through the Washington State Legislature at this Senate Bill Report.

SB 5906 also imposes similar requirements on health care facilities and adult family homes. Unless required by other laws, these facilities may not permit immigration enforcement officers to enter nonpublic areas without a judicial warrant or court order. Legislative documentation further specifies that health care facilities must train staff on how to respond to such requests. These requirements are reflected in the bill text published by the Legislature at the official bill page.

Local impacts for Cowlitz County remain to be fully assessed, but the bill’s provisions would apply statewide, affecting schools, clinics, child care centers, and election offices across the region, including Longview and Kelso. Officials in educational and health institutions may eventually need to update internal policies and train staff to comply with the new procedural requirements if the bill becomes law.

Why this matters

For communities in southwest Washington, including Longview and Kelso, the bill introduces clear procedural guardrails around when and how federal immigration officers may enter sensitive community spaces. The stated intent, according to sponsors and supporting legislators, is to ensure that residents can access education, health care, and civic services without fear of warrantless immigration enforcement. These changes could influence school district policy, health facility procedures, and the daily experiences of families interacting with public institutions.