“Hey honey, it’s your turn!”
Are you a mom who has wanted to say just that to your male co-parent while out on a family outing? Or, to your baby’s grandfather during a family vacation? Or another male caregiver who’s gotten off the hook for diaper changes due to the lack of baby changing stations in public places?
Washington code just stepped up for you.
As of July 1, per a new law in Washington, any newly constructed public building in the state must include at least one baby diaper changing station accessible to all caregivers. If the station isn’t in a restroom, clearly visible signs must direct people to it.
This isn’t just about new buildings. The requirement also applies to public buildings undergoing renovations costing more than $15,000. Modeled after a federal rule that has governed federal buildings since 2016, the law aims to ensure that every parent, regardless of gender, has a clean place to change their child.
The law was first introduced in 2018 and gained momentum this year with House Bill 1562, sponsored by Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island, and championed on the floor by Rep. Victoria Hunt, D-Issaquah, a mom who told the Washington State Standard she’s changed her own kids “on many corners of the floor” for lack of better options.
While some lawmakers expressed concerns about safety issues, such as drug paraphernalia being left on changing tables, an amendment allows stations to be removed if proven unsafe. Still, the bill passed the House with bipartisan support and took effect 90 days after the legislative session ended.
Bottom line? No more excuses. The law helps ensure all caregivers — dads, grandpas, uncles, and more — have equal access to diaper duty. We say: it’s about time.
