AN ACT Relating to motion picture captioning in motion picture theaters;
Summary
SB 5486 requires motion picture theaters in Washington to provide access to open captioning for films that are produced and distributed with captioning available under federal disability law. For theaters with five or more locations in the state, the bill sets minimum open-caption screening requirements for newly released films with open-caption files, including multiple screenings during the first two weeks after release and at least one weekly screening thereafter at specified times. For theaters with four or fewer locations, the bill requires an open-caption screening within eight calendar days of a request and otherwise to offer open-caption screenings consistent with the larger-theater requirements when feasible.
The bill also defines key terms such as closed captioning, open captioning, motion picture theater, and motion picture theater company. It requires theaters to post contact information on their websites for captioning requests, advertise open-caption screenings in the same manner as other showtimes, identify them with an “OC” symbol, and keep records showing compliance for at least one year. Drive-in theaters are exempt. The act takes effect January 1 and is titled the John Waldo Act.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to chapter 19.80 RCW, expanding Washington’s public accommodation and disability-access framework by imposing specific open-captioning obligations on movie theaters. It affects theater operators, especially companies controlling multiple theaters in the state, by requiring scheduling, advertising, website, and recordkeeping practices to ensure access for patrons who rely on captions. The measure does not create a general mandate for all screenings, but it does establish minimum statewide standards for captioned showings when captioned versions of films are available.
Sentiment
The voting history suggests broad but not unanimous support for the bill. It passed the Senate and House with comfortable margins, including strong final-passage votes in both chambers, indicating general agreement with the goal of improving access for deaf and hard-of-hearing moviegoers. The earlier committee votes also show support, though the Ways & Means Committee took a neutral position without recommendation, suggesting the bill was not viewed as primarily a fiscal measure.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to have centered on the scope and operational burden of the mandate, particularly for larger theater chains that would need to schedule specific open-caption showings and maintain compliance records. The bill’s different treatment of theaters with five or more locations versus smaller operators indicates an effort to balance accessibility goals with business concerns. The neutral vote in Ways & Means may reflect uncertainty about implementation costs or administrative impacts, while the strong floor votes show that any objections were not enough to prevent passage.
Requires a motion picture theater that offers more than ten motion picture showings per week to provide scheduled showings of motion pictures with open motion picture captioning such that at least one quarter of all showings of a motion picture with four or more showings during a one-week time period shall have open motion picture captioning; provides exceptions and penalties for violations.
Requires a motion picture theater that offers more than ten motion picture showings per week to provide scheduled showings of motion pictures with open motion picture captioning such that at least one quarter of all showings of a motion picture with four or more showings during a one-week time period shall have open motion picture captioning; provides exceptions and penalties for violations.
Requires a motion picture theater that offers more than ten motion picture showings per week to provide scheduled showings of motion pictures with open motion picture captioning such that at least one quarter of all showings of a motion picture with four or more showings during a one-week time period shall have open motion picture captioning; provides exceptions and penalties for violations.