This page lists selected coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency proclamations issued by Governor Inslee that are relevant to government agencies in Washington State, statewide face mask orders, and additional guidance documents from the Attorney General's Office and other state agencies.

It is part of MRSC's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Local Governments series.

Governor’s Emergency Authority

The governor has the authority to issue emergency proclamations under RCW 43.06.220, which has several different subsections.

The governor has sole authority to issue and extend emergency proclamations under RCW 43.06.220(1), which includes “[s]uch other activities as he or she reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace.” For instance, the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order (Proclamation 20-25) and its subsequent extensions and amendments were issued under RCW 43.06.220(1).

The governor also has the authority to issue emergency proclamations under RCW 43.06.220(2), which includes waiving or suspending statutory obligations or limitations. However, these proclamations are limited to 30 days and can only be extended beyond 30 days by concurrent resolution of the legislature, or by the legislative leadership (majority and minority leaders of both houses) if the legislature is not in session.

An emergency proclamation issued under both subsections may require action from both the governor and the legislature (or its leadership) to extend all provisions of the proclamation beyond 30 days. If the legislature does not agree, the portion of the declaration issued under RCW 43.06.220(2) expires after 30 days while the portion issued under RCW 43.06.220(1) remains in effect until terminated by the governor.

"Safe Start, Stay Healthy" Order and Phased Re-Opening

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-25 (March 23) – Initial "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order
  • Proclamation 20-25.1 (April 2) – Extending order through May 4
  • Proclamation 20-25.2 (April 27) – Opening certain outdoor activities on May 5
  • Proclamation 20-25.3 (May 4) – Extending order through May 31 and making adjustments for certain low-risk businesses; allows certain counties to apply for variance to allow additional businesses to re-open
  • Proclamation 20-25.4 (May 31) – Extends order through July 1 and transitions to county-by-county phased re-opening plan entitled "Safe Start, Stay Healthy." Effective June 8, all employees must wear a facial covering except when working alone or when the job has no in-person interaction, and employers must provide cloth facial coverings to employees (unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection).
  • Proclamation 20-25.5 (July 1) – Extends order through July 9, provides clarifications, and adds new requirements for employers to cooperate with public health authorities in the COVID-19 prevention and case investigation.
  • Proclamation 20-25.6 (July 7) – Extends order through August 6; extends and clarifies the facial covering provisions; and requires employers to report suspected COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace within 24 hours. Also see supplemental memorandum limiting gatherings to 10 people in Phase 3, effective July 20.
  • Proclamation 20-25.7 (July 24) – Extends  "Safe Start, Stay Healthy" order until the governor terminates the state of emergency, or until the proclamation is amended or rescinded. Incorporates updated facial covering guidance from Order 20-03.1.
• Initial list of essential industries and employees (March 23)
  • Supplemental construction guidance memorandum (March 25)
  • Guidance bulletin listing additional essential services in alphabetical order (March 31)
• Safe Start Washington: A Phased Approach to Recovery (updated July 24) – State's re-opening plan
  • COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers – Industry-specific public health and social distancing standards. Note that the Phase 2 Professional Services Guidance does not apply to government employees.
  • Safe Start Reopening Guide for State Agencies – Governor Inslee issued a memo to local governments encouraging them to use this guide as a resource when developing their own Safe Start Plans.
  • Phase 3 Safe Start Plan Template – Each entity operating in Phase 3, which includes customer-facing government services with telework still strongly encouraged, must develop a written safety plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out this template or may develop its own safety plan. Entities do not have to submit the plan to the state or the county public health department for approval, but they must retain a copy on the premises and make it available to state or local authorities in the event of an inspection. Businesses are still required to follow the state’s industry-specific guidance.
  • COVID-19 County Status and Safe Start Application Process – Shows which counties have applied or been approved for faster re-opening, along with eligibility criteria and application process. See Risk Assessment Dashboard for the same information in map format

Department of Labor & Industries

• WAC 296-800-14035 (amended July 2) – Emergency rule; employers must not allow employees to perform work where a business activity is prohibited by an emergency proclamation and must comply with all conditions for operation required by emergency proclamation, including Safe Start phased reopening requirements for all business and any industry-specific requirements. Expires October 30, 2020.
  • Also see WSR 20-12-017 (May 26) adopting the original rule and WSR 20-15-009 (July 2) amending the rule.

Economic Impacts

Department of Commerce

• Economic Recovery Dashboard – Provides key county-level, state, and national economic data to help decision makers, staff members, and communities measure the impacts of the pandemic on the economy and support programs. Also see a recorded a 30-minute video demonstrating how to use the tool.

Facial Coverings/Face Masks

Governor's Office

• Face Masks or Cloth Face Covering – Provides many resources related to the statewide facial covering requirements for residents and businesses; includes FAQs, enforcement signage for businesses, and other useful resources.
• Overview of COVID-19 Statewide Face Covering Requirements (July 20) – Overview of facial covering requirements, including best practices for business owners to enforce the rules in the event a customer does not wear a mask.
• Proclamation 20-25.4 (May 31) – Effective June 8, all employees must wear a facial covering except when working alone or when the job has no in-person interaction, and employers must provide cloth facial coverings to employees (unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection).
  • Proclamation 20-60 (June 24) – Imposes stricter facial covering requirements for Yakima County only, effective June 26
  • Proclamation 20-25.6 (July 7) – Extends Yakima County facial covering provisions statewide. Customers may not enter a business without a facial covering (with exceptions outlined in Order 20-03); businesses may not operate unless customers are in compliance with facial covering requirements; and employers must notify the local health jurisdiction within 24 hours if the employer suspects COVID-19 is spreading within the workplace or is aware of two or more employees who develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.
  • Proclamation 20-25.7 (July 24) – Incorporates the updated facial covering requirements from the Secretary of Health's Order 20-03.1; proclamation is effective until the governor terminates the state of emergency or amendes or rescinds the proclamation.

Department of Health

• Order 20-03 (June 24) – Statewide order requiring people to wear face coverings inside any building that is open to the public, in healthcare settings, in transit and for-hire vehicle settings, and in outdoor public areas when a distance of at least six feet cannot be maintained from non-household members. Order effective June 26.
  • Order 20-03.1 (July 24) – Expanding the statewide facial covering requirement effective July 25 to require all people to wear a facial covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are outside their "dwelling unit," subject to specific exceptions.
• Cloth Face Coverings – Information and resources related to cloth face masks.

Department of Labor & Industries

• Coronavirus Hazard Considerations for Employers (except COVID-19 care in hospitals & clinics) Face Coverings, Masks, and Respirator Choices – Information on what types of facial coverings must be worn for various job situations, depending on risk level.
  • Which Mask for Which Task? – Easy-to-understand guidance document with photos of the different types of masks

Public Health Data & Resources

Department of Health

• 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) – Includes information on symptoms and testing, general guidance, and number of cases and deaths by county
• COVID-19 Data Dashboard – Provides interactive data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, including daily case counts, demographic breakdowns, number of tests conducted, hospitalizations, cases by county, and more
• COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers – Industry-specific public health and social distancing standards for approved business activities
• COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard – Key criteria used by state to inform the re-opening plan; updated every Wednesday
• Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines and Forms – Forms for use by local health officers when they find it necessary to isolate or quarantine individuals

Employee Leave, Benefits, and Unemployment

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-46 (April 13) – Providing employment protections to high-risk public and private employees through June 12. Addresses alternative work arrangements, leave options, health insurance protections, and other issues. Also prohibits employers from applying or enforcing any employment contract provisions that contradict or interfere with these provisions.
  • Proclamation 20-46.1 (June 9) – Extending employment protections for high-risk workers through August 1.
  • Proclamation 20-46.2 (July 29) – Extending employment protections for high-risk workers for the duration of the statewide emergency, or until the proclamation is amended or rescinded. Includes new memorandum clarifying the scope of the order and when an employer may require an employee to submit verification from a medical provider.

Employment Security Department

• COVID-19 Information – Includes separate Q&As for workers and employers, FAQs on the federal CARES Act stimulus legislation, email alerts, links to ESD emergency rules and rulemaking documents, and more.
• COVID-19 Scenarios and Benefits Available – Helpful chart showing which leave scenarios are covered by paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, paid family and medical leave, and industrial insurance
• Unemployment Benefits Fraud – Information on how employers and employees can report fraudulent unemployment claims
• July 17 Unemployment Benefits Letter – Notifying employers of changes to quarterly bill and benefit charges beginning in August, reflecting the federal Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act of 2020 which was signed into law on August 3.

Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA)

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-28 (March 24) – Temporarily suspending portions of the OPMA and PRA that require in-person meetings or contact and making additional temporary changes.
  • State Legislature April 22 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.1 (April 23) – Extending proclamation until May 4.
  • State Legislature May 4 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.2 (May 5) – Extending OPMA provisions until May 31.
  • State Legislature May 29 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.4 (May 29) – Extending OPMA provisions through June 17; removes restriction on what "action" a governing body may take at a meeting.
  • State Legislature June 17 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.5 (June 18) – Extending OPMA provisions through July 1.
  • State Legislature July 1 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.6 (July 2) – Extending OPMA provisions through July 7; public agencies holding meetings in counties currently in Phase 3 may optionally, in addition to the remote meeting elements, include an in-person component to a public meeting if all of the public health conditions in the proclamation are followed. If at any time the in-person component of the meeting cannot meet the public health requirements, the entire meeting (including the phone/remote component) must be adjourned, continued, or terminated until the conditions can be met.
  • State Legislature July 7 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.7 (July 8) – Extending OPMA provisions through on August 1. The Governor’s office said in a press release that Proclamation 20-28.7 still authorizes public agencies holding public meetings in counties currently in Phase 3 to, optionally and in addition to hosting the meeting remotely, include an in-person component to a public meeting. Also see supplemental memorandum reducing maximum gathering and meeting size from 50 people to 10 people in Phase 3, effective July 20.
  • State Legislature July 30 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.8 (July 31) – Extends existing OPMA provisions through 11:59 PM on September 1.
  • State Legislature August 31 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.9 (September 2) – Extends existing OPMA provisions through 11:59 PM on October 1.
  • Proclamation 20-28.10 (September 16) – Limited exception to the general ban on in-person meetings for jurisdictions that are unable to convene remote meetings because wildfires have significantly degraded telecommunications. Spells out a number of specific requirements and restrictions for those impacted jurisdictions, including (1) requiring the jurisdiction to post a recording or transcript of the meeting as soon as practical through its website or other means readily available to the public, and (2) limiting the "actions" that may be taken at such meetings to those that are "necessary and routine" or that are necessary to respond to direct or indirect impacts related to COVID-19 and/or wildfires. Effective through 11:59 PM on October 1 or until telecommunications are sufficiently restored, whichever occurs sooner.
  • State Legislature October 1 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.11 (October 2) – Extends existing OPMA statutory waivers through 11:59 PM on November 9, with the exception of the wildfire provisions in Proclamation 20-28.10.

Attorney General's Office

• Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) General Guidance Regarding Coronavirus (March 6) – Issued prior to Proclamation 20-28; reflects the normal Open Public Meetings Act requirements.
  • "First Update" Supplemental Guidance (March 26) – Amends initial March 6 guidance to reflect OPMA suspensions and prohibitions in Proclamation 20-28.
  • “Second Update” Guidance (April 24) – No changes except for extending the March 26 guidance to May 4 to reflect Proclamation 20-28.1.
  • “Third Update” Guidance (May 6) – No changes except for extending the March 26 OPMA guidance to May 31 and extending the Public Records Act five-day response provision to May 11, to reflect Proclamation 20-28.2.
  • “Fourth Update” Guidance (May 14) – One minor change extending the Public Records Act five-day response provision to May 31, except for records requests received electronically which now must be responded to within five business days, to reflect Proclamation 20-28.3.
  • "Fifth Update" Guidance (June 1) – Extending the March 26 OPMA guidance to June 17 and updating the provisions regarding taking "action" at meetings, to reflect Proclamation 20-28.4.
  • "Sixth Update" Guidance (June 19) – No changes except for extending the guidance to July 1 to reflect Proclamation 20-28.5.
  • The Attorney General's Office has not provided any further updates to its COVID-19 OPMA guidance at this time.

Public Records Act (PRA)

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-28 (March 24) – Temporarily suspending portions of the OPMA and PRA that require in-person meetings or contact and making additional temporary changes through April 23.
  • State Legislature April 22 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.1 (April 23) – Extends order until May 4.
  • State Legislature May 4 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.2 (May 5) – Extends PRA provisions until May 31, except for the suspension of the 5-day response period in RCW 42.56.520(1) which is only extended until May 11.
  • State Legislature May 11 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.3 (May 12) – Extends suspension of the 5-day response period through May 31, but not for requests received electronically. All public records requests received electronically on or after May 12, 2020 must be responded to within five business days.
  • State Legislature May 29 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.4 (May 29) – Extends remaining PRA provisions through June 17.
  • State Legislature June 17 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.5 (June 18) – Extends remaining PRA provisions through July 1.
  • State Legislature July 1 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.6 (July 2) – Extends remaining PRA provisions through July 7.
  • State Legislature July 7 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.7 (July 8) – Extends remaining PRA provisions through August 1.
  • State Legislature July 30 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.8 (July 31) – Extends remaining PRA provisions through 11:59 PM on September 1 with no changes.
  • State Legislature August 31 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.9 (September 2) – Extends remaining PRA provisions through 11:59 PM on October 1.
  • State Legislature October 1 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-28.11 (October 2) – Extends existing PRA statutory waivers through 11:59 PM on November 9.
• Proclamation 20-64 (July 30) – Prohibits public agencies, including local governments, from releasing the personally identifying and contact information gathered by COVID-19 contact tracers or in customer/visitor/employee logs in response to a public records request. This prohibition does not apply to the name or location of a business or entity that is part of a contact tracing investigation. The proclamation expires August 29 at 11:59 PM.
  • State Legislature August 27 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-64.1 (September 2) – Extends provisions through 11:59 PM on October 1 with no changes.
  • State Legislature October 1 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-64.2 (October 2) – Extends existing statutory waivers through 11:59 PM on November 9.

State Archives

• Managing COVID-19 Pandemic Records – Provides information on retention of records related to the agency's response to COVID-19, as well as COVID-19 health screening records for employees and visitors.

Financial Reporting and CARES Act Reimbursement

Department of Commerce

• Local Government Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak – Links to state resources and distribution/application processes for cities, towns, and counties
  • Local Government Coronavirus Relief Funds – Information on CARES Act distributions to cities, towns, and counties under 500,000 population.
  • Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus Funds (CDBG-CV) – Information on supplemental CDBG coronavirus funds allocated by the CARES Act 

State Auditor's Office

• COVID-19 Guidance Toolkit – Information on CARES Act and federal financial assistance, auditing guidance, information on accounting and reporting, and more
• Guidance on Use of CARES Act Funds (June 30) – Short guidance document on complying with federal award requirements for CARES Act expendiures.

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-34 (March 26) – Temporarily suspending the 150-day annual financial reporting deadline (May 29 this year).
  • State Legislature April 22 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-34.1 (April 23) – Extending waiver until May 4.
  • State Legislature May 4 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-34.2 (May 5) – Extending waiver until May 31.
  • State Legislature May 29 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-34.3 (May 29) – Extending waiver until June 17.
  • State Legislature June 17 Extension Letter and Proclamation 20-34.4 (June 18) – Final extension; waiver expired on July 2.

Utilities

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-23 (March 18) and Proclamation 20-23.1 (March 24) – Strongly encouraging utilities to take reasonable actions to mitigate economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility customers.
• Proclamation 20-23.2 (April 17) – Through May 4, prohibits all energy, water, and telecommunications providers from (1) disconnecting residential service due to nonpayment, (2) refusing to reconnect residential customers who were disconnected due to nonpayment, and (3) charging late fees or reconnection fees.
  • Proclamation 20-23.3 (May 5) – Extends prohibitions through May 31.
  • Proclamation 20-23.4 (May 29) – Extends prohibitions through July 28 and requires all utilities providing energy, telecommunications, and water services to develop and prominently post COVID-19 Customer Support Programs by July 10.
  • Proclamation 20-23.5 (June 18) – No changes to utility shutoff, late fee, or COVID-19 Customer Support Program requirements, which continue through July 28, but recognizes the legislative leadership's extension of the utility statutory waivers and suspensions through July 1.
  • Proclamation 20-23.6 (July 2) – Extends utility prohibitions through August 1, extends deadline for utilities to review and post COVID-19 Customer Support Programs to August 1, and provides new COVID-19 Utility Customer Support Program Guidance Document.
  • Proclamation 20-23.7 (July 31) – Extends utility prohibitions through 11:59 PM on October 15; adds new provision prohibiting utilities from disconnecting service to any residential customer who has requested assistance from the utility's COVID-19 Customer Support Program.
  • Proclamation 20-23.8 (September 2) – No changes to utility shutoff/late fee prohibitions, which continue through October 15.
  • Proclamation 20-23.9 (October 2) – No changes to utility shutoff/late fee prohibitions, which continue through 11:59 PM on October 15.
  • Proclamation 20-23.10 (October 8) – No changes to utility shutoff/late fee prohibitions, which continue through 11:59 PM on October 15.
  • Proclamation 20-23.11 (October 14) – Extends prohibitions through 11:59 PM on December 31.

Gift of Public Funds

Attorney General's Office

• Memorandum on Gift of Public Funds and COVID-19 (March 17) – Concludes that generally speaking, local governments have broad authority to make expenditures combating COVID-19 because such efforts further fundamental public purposes such as protecting public health and welfare.
• Legality of Options for Supporting Small Businesses and Low-Income Individuals During a Public Health Crisis (April 6) – Concludes that local governments may provide cash assistance to low-income individuals struggling due to COVID-19 consistent with gift of public funds restrictions; small business grants/loans are likely permissible as long as safeguards are in place to prevent fraud/abuse.

Eviction Moratoriums and Tenant Protections

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-19 (March 18) – Statewide moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent, effective until April 17.
  • Proclamation 20-19.1 (April 16) – Extending and expanding the residential eviction restrictions until June 4; also prohibits rent increases or threats to increase rent for residential tenants and for commercial tenants who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. 
  • Proclamation 20-19.2 (June 2) – Extending restrictions until August 1.
  • Proclamation 20-19.3 (July 24) – Extending restrictions until October 15.
  • Proclamation 20-19.4 (October 14) – Extending restrictions until Deceber 31, with some modifications

Planning

Governor's Office

• Proclamation 20-40 (April 2) – Delaying the effective date of State Building Code amendments from July 1, 2020 to November 1, 2020.
• Proclamation 20-61 (June 30) – Suspending requirement for cities and towns to update their transportation improvement programs (TIPs) by July 1. This requirement was suspended through July 30 and was not renewed.

Information Technology and Telecommuting

WaTech

• State IT Resources Checklist for Local and Municipal Governments During the COVID-19 Crisis (2020) – Checklist for local agencies to provide mobile/remote support for their workplaces, including links to relevant state master contracts