Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

  • Washington Law Against Discrimination: The Washington Law Against Discrimination covers employment, housing and other real estate transactions, credit transactions, insurance transactions, and public accommodations like schools, government offices, and businesses that are open to the public.  The list of protected groups varies depending on the activity involved.

    The Washington State Human Rights Commission administers and enforces the Washington Law Against Discrimination.  The Washington Human Rights Commission accepts and investigates discrimination complaints.  You can learn more about the Washington State Human Rights Commission’s complaint process here.

    The Office of the Attorney General has authority to enforce Washington anti-discrimination statutes like the Washington Law Against Discrimination and the Consumer Protection Act.  You may file a civil rights complaint here.

     

  • Washington Healthy Starts Act:  The Washington Healthy Starts Act provides specific civil rights protections for pregnant employees, including a requirement that they receive reasonable accommodations by employers. More information about this law is available here.

    The Office of the Attorney General, Civil Rights Division has authority to enforce the Healthy Starts Act and accepts complaints at pregnancy@atg.wa.gov, by message on our toll-free line at (833) 660-4877, or online here.

     

  • Washington Fair Chance Act:  The Washington Fair Chance Act protects job applicants who have been formerly involved with the criminal legal system so that they may fairly compete for job opportunities for which they are otherwise qualified. Anyone may file a complaint about an unlawful advertisement or hiring practice, not just job applicants who have been impacted by such actions. More information about this law is available here.

    The Office of the Attorney General, Civil Rights Division has sole authority to enforce the Fair Chance Act and accepts complaints at fairchancejobs@atg.wa.gov, by message on our toll-free line at (833) 660-4877, or online here.

 

  • Washington Voting Rights Act: The Washington Voting Rights Act helps protect voting rights by regulating local elections from impairing the ability of members of a protected class to have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

 

  • Workplace Rights: The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries enforces workplace rights like rights to minimum wage, timely payment of wages, rights to breaks, the rules about payroll and personnel records, and nondiscrimination in equal pay and career opportunities. You can file a complaint with the Department of Labor & Industries here.

 

 

 

  • Public schools: Washington law prohibits discrimination in public schools on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, and disability.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has a Nondiscrimination Policy and Procedure that includes its complaint and investigation procedure.

 

  • Service animals: Under state and federal law, individuals with disabilities are allowed to bring service animals into places of public accommodation. An informational poster for Washington residents and businesses that explains the rights and responsibilities of service animal handlers and places of public accommodation is available hereEn Español

 

  • Service members: The Attorney General also enforces the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which protects members of the National Guard or military reserve in areas such as rental agreements, loan interest rates, foreclosure, eviction, and insurance.  More information about veteran and military resources is available here.  You may file a complaint about veteran issues, including the SCRA, through the Attorney General’s consumer complaint process.