The bill establishes new requirements for motion picture theaters in Washington State regarding open and closed captioning to ensure accessibility for individuals with hearing disabilities. It mandates that theaters with six or more screens provide open captioning for at least two screenings of each motion picture that offers this feature within the first two weeks of its release, including at least one screening during peak weekend hours. The bill also requires theaters with five or fewer screens to accommodate requests for open-captioned screenings within 72 hours or to follow the same requirements as larger theaters. Additionally, theaters must maintain documentation of compliance, advertise open-captioned screenings, and provide contact information for requests on their websites.

Penalties for non-compliance include civil fines of up to $100 for the first violation, with the opportunity to avoid the fine by rectifying the issue within 30 days. Subsequent violations can incur fines of up to $500. The bill also directs the human rights commission to create an educational pamphlet to inform theaters about their responsibilities under this law, including the distinctions between closed and open captioning. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.