Washington
From US data breach notification laws: After a data breach, how fast must a business tell people, and who else must it tell?
Law: RCW 19.255
The section that holds the state's general breach notification duty for businesses, as the source names it.
rcw 19.255 applies to individuals and businesses
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
Days to tell residents: 30 days
The outer limit in days for telling affected residents, as stated. Blank where no number is stated. States start the clock differently, at discovery or at determining a breach happened, and the quote shows which.
within 30 days after the breach was discovered
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
How fast, in the law's words: in the most expedient time possible
The law's own words for how quickly residents must be told, apart from any day count.
in the most expedient time possible
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
Attorney general told: Yes
Yes if the source says the state attorney general or its equivalent must be told of a breach in at least some cases. Florida's Department of Legal Affairs and Oregon's Attorney General count.
notification must also be provided to the attorney general's office
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
Residents before the AG is told: 500 residents
The number of affected residents at which the attorney general must be told, as stated. Blank where no number is stated. The quote shows whether it means that many or more than that many.
more than 500 washington residents
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
Days to tell the AG: 30 days
The deadline in days for telling the attorney general, as stated. Blank where no number is stated. Clocks differ: some run from the breach, and others from telling residents, as the quote shows.
this notice is also due within 30 days of discovery of the breach
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
Encrypted data excepted: Yes
Yes if the text limits the duty to unencrypted data, or leaves encrypted data out. Stolen keys can undo this in several states.
the resident's personal information was not secured (i.e. encrypted)
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.
Low-harm exception: Yes
Yes if the text lets a business skip notice after finding that harm or misuse is unlikely, or only counts breaches that create a real risk.
is reasonably likely to subject consumers to a risk of harm
Source: https://www.atg.wa.gov/washington-s-data-breach-notification-laws. Read 2026-11-01. Checked by a second reader.