Washington State Democracy Legislation & ACTION NEEDED

The Washington State legislative session begins TODAY, January 12, 2026. Each year, Washington state's legislative session begins on the second Monday in January. The Washington state legislature operates on a biennium, meaning each legislative session lasts two years and bills that are not passed in the first year are automatically carried over to the next year. This is the SECOND year of the biennium, which is a shorter session lasting 60 days. Bills introduced last year that did not pass have carried over to this year, in addition to new bills introduced this session.

Summary:  

House Bill 2210 recognizes that local governments need clear and flexible authority to adopt alternative election systems like ranked-choice voting (RCV) and proportional representation — tools that help reduce vote splitting, reflect voter preferences more accurately, and support effective local governance. It would:

• Authorize local jurisdictions for a period of six years to choose to adopt ranked-choice voting, proportional representation, or other approved election methods. Once a jurisdiction opts in during that period, it can continue using that election method thereafter.

• Provide clearer legal authority for local options that currently lack sufficient statutory clarity, reducing uncertainty and litigation risk around adopting alternative voting methods.

• Support democratic resilience by offering practical tools for local governments during a period of evolving federal voting rights protections.

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SCR 8406 - Reestablishing the joint select committee on civic health.

Summary:  

Reestablishes the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health.

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HB 2206 - Adopting national standards for uniformed and overseas civilian voting, including conforming amendments to existing statute.

Summary:  

An ACT Relating to adopting national standards for uniformed and overseas civilian voting, including conforming amendments to existing statute. More summary details to come.

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PRIORITY BILL:

Jail Voting Access:

HB 1146 – Improving access and removing barriers to voting in jails

Status & Hearings: 

• The bill was referred to the House Appropriations committee last session. We are now waiting to see if the bill will stay in Appropriations or be referred back to the policy committee. We expect some amendments to this bill to focus on just jail access and not state hospitals, as well as other amendments.

Updated Bill Summary:  TBD

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PRIORITY BILL:

Protections Against Voter Reg. Challenges:

HB 1916 - Amending voter registration challenges and managing voter registration lists.

Status & Hearings: 

• The bill was referred to the House Rules committee last session. We are now waiting to see if the bill will be referred back to the policy committee and it there will be any amendments.

Bill Summary: 

• Amends the process, permitted evidence, and penalties for challenging a voter's registration.

• Clarifies when a voter's registration is canceled or removed from the voter registration list.

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Other Democracy Bills We Support Carried Over from Last Session:

Voting Rights Restoration:

HB 1196 – Revoking a person's voting rights only when convicted of a state crime punishable by death.

Status & Hearings: 

• The bill was referred to the House Rules committee last session. We are now waiting to see if the bill will be referred back to the policy committee and if there will be any amendments.

Bill Summary: 

• This bill would revoke a person's voting rights only when convicted of a state crime punishable by death.

• It would amend Washington state's RCW (Revised Code of Washington) definition of "infamous crime" as a state crime punishable by death.

• This definition applies for purposes of voter qualifications and does not apply when the term "infamous crime" is used in other titles of the Revised Code of Washington, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise.

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Act for Civic Engagment:

HB 1147 – Supporting civic engagement for incarcerated and institutionalized individuals in state custody to promote inclusion and rehabilitation.

Status & Hearings: 

• The bill was referred to the House Appropriations committee last session. We are now waiting to see if the bill will stay in Appropriations or be referred back to the policy committee. There could be some amendments to this bill.

Bill Summary: 

• Ensures that all individuals, including those in state institutions, have the opportunity to participate in civic life.

• Allows people in state institutions to form groups and engage in civic discussions.

• Enables interaction with the public, politicians, and advocacy groups.

• Provides tools for participation in virtual meetings with community groups, lawmakers, and forums.

• Prevents retaliation for taking part in civic processes.

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Election Day Holiday:

HB 1116 – Recognizing election day as a state holiday.

Status & Hearings: 

• The bill was referred to the House Rules committee last session. We are now waiting to see if the bill will be referred back to the policy committee and if there will be any amendments.

Bill Summary: 

• The state recognizes the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, recognized as election day as a state holiday.

• The legislature encourages state governmental entities, local governments, schools and institutions of higher education, and cultural organizations to recognize election day and engage in educational programming related to democracy and voting.

• The office of the secretary of state shall create election day programming and materials that these entities may use in planning and structuring their recognitions. For purposes of this section, "election day" is the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.

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Voter Pamplets for Primary Elections:

SB 5069 – Requiring the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet for the primary in each even-numbered year and for the general election every year.

Status & Hearings: 

• The bill was referred to the Senate Ways & Means committee last session. We are now waiting to see if the bill will stay in Ways & Means or be referred back to the policy committee. There could be some amendments to this bill.

Bill Summary: 

• Requires the secretary of state to print and distribute a voters' pamphlet prior to the primary in each even-numbered year and prior to the general election every year.

• Provides that local voters' pamphlets printed and distributed by county auditors are not required to provide information on measures and candidates appearing in a voters' pamphlet produced by the secretary of state.

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New democracy related bills introduced this session: 

HB 2259/SB 5973 - Requiring a demonstration of support before issuance of a ballot measure title.

HB 2260 - Requirements pertaining to signatures and addresses of ballot measure petitioners and petition signature gatherers.

HB 2262 - Civics education for public school students through instruction and information about the production and use of official signature.

HB 2333 - Protecting elected officials and candidates, executive state officers, election officials, and criminal justice participants against threats and incidents of political violence. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on January 14th at 1:30 PM in anticipation of other legislative action. 

HB 2341 - Celebrating national voter registration day - third Tuesday of September of each year, or the following Tuesday if the third Tuesday of September falls on a major religious holiday.

HJR 4209 - Concerning congressional redistricting between decennial censuses.

SB 5892 - Voter registration database protection.

SB 6035 - Ensuring access to voting services for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters.

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