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Washington State Democracy Legislative Newsletter Week of January 13, 2025 |
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Washington State Democracy Legislation & ACTION NEEDED The Washington State legislative session begins TODAY, January 13, 2025. 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 FIRST year of the biennium, which is a longer session lasting 105 days. All bills introduced this year will carry over to next year if they don't pass this session. We encourage you to contact your local legislators in support of bills listed below, as well as other legislation you support. You can find your local legislators HERE. *Please note things move quickly during the legislative session, and some of the info shared may change. Please check each bill page for the latest information. Current Democracy Legislation & ACTION NEEDED This Week: |
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PRIORITY BILL: Jail Voting Access: HB 1146 – Improving access and removing barriers to voting in jails and state hospitals. Status & Hearings: • Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on January 15th at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. Bill Summary: • Each county auditor's office must designate one employee as the jail voting coordinator for the county. This person shall also serve as the state hospital voting coordinator. • Each jail and state hospital must designate one employee as the voting coordinator for the jail or hospital. • Each county auditor must create a voting plan for each jail and state hospital within the county. • Jails and state hospitals must provide people who are incarcerated with access to voter registration information, ballot-related information, and ballots in accordance with their voting plan developed. • Jails and state hospitals must permit election officials from the county auditor's office and staff from the secretary of state's office to enter the jail or state hospital at least 30 days in advance of each election in order to provide voter registration outreach and education to people who are incarcerated. *ACTION NEEDED for HB 1146* Sign in PRO HERE before the public hearing on Jan 15th *Sign in by 12:30 pm on Jan 15th, at least one hour before the hearing. Please also register your support for HB 1146 HERE. |
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PRIORITY BILL: Act for Civic Engagment: HB 1147 – Supporting civic engagement for incarcerated and institutionalized individuals in state custody to promote inclusion and rehabilitation. Status & Hearings: • Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on January 15th at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. 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. *ACTION NEEDED for HB 1147* Sign in PRO HERE before the public hearing on Jan 15th *Sign in by 12:30 pm on Jan 15th, at least one hour before the hearing. Please also register your support for HB 1147 HERE. |
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PRIORITY BILL: Voting Rights Restoration: HB 1196 – Revoking a person's voting rights only when convicted of a state crime punishable by death. Status & Hearings: • Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on January 15th at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. 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. *ACTION NEEDED for HB 1196* Sign in PRO HERE before the public hearing on Jan 15th *Sign in by 12:30 pm on Jan 15th, at least one hour before the hearing. Please also register your support for HB 1196 HERE. |
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Election Day Holiday: HB 1116 – Recognizing election day as a state holiday. Status & Hearings: • Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on January 14th at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. • Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on January 17th at 8:00 AM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. 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. *ACTION NEEDED for HB 1116* Sign in PRO HERE before the public hearing on Jan 14th *Sign in by 12:30 pm on Jan 14th, at least one hour before the hearing. Please also register your support for HB 1116 HERE. |
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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: • Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections on January 14th at 1:30 PM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. • Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections on January 17th at 10:30 AM. (Committee Materials). You can view the hearing HERE. 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. *ACTION NEEDED for SB 5069* Sign in PRO HERE before the public hearing on Jan 14th *Sign in by 12:30 pm on Jan 14th, at least one hour before the hearing. Please also register your support for SB 5069 HERE. |
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PRIORITY BILL: Expanding Automatic Voter Registration: SB 5077 – Concerning expansion of voter registration services by government agencies. Status & Hearings: It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing this session. Bill Summary: • Expands Automatic Voter Registration to federal agencies administrating naturalization ceremonies, centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, and the Department of Corrections. Please register your support for SB 5077 HERE. |
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PRIORITY BILL: Addressing Money in Elections: SJM 8001 – Calling on Congress to exercise its authority under Article V of the United States Constitution to regulate money spent on elections. Status & Hearings: It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing this session. Bill Summary: • Asks the Congress of the United States under Article V of the Constitution to pass and send to the states for ratification an amendment to the Constitution that: (1) Returns to Congress and the legislatures of the states: (a) The authority to regulate the size and timing of contributions to election campaigns, whether made to candidates or to ballot measures, and whether such contributions are made directly to campaigns or to groups making independent expenditures related to such campaigns; (b) The authority to distinguish between natural persons and other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections; and (c) The authority to require timely public disclosure of the source and amount of all such contributions; (2) States that the rights listed and acknowledged in the Constitution of the United States are the rights of individual human beings only; (3) States that the judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to be free speech under the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States; (4) Requires that all political contributions and expenditures be disclosed promptly and in a manner accessible to voters prior to elections; and (5) States that the amendment does not limit the rights of individual human beings to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, or freedom of association. Please register your support for SJM 8001 HERE. |
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Protections Against Voter Reg. Challenges: HB 1223 – Limiting frivolous claims by modifying forms, processes, and methods of adjudication for voter registration challenges. Status & Hearings: It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing this session. Bill Summary: • A person's right to vote may be challenged by another registered voter from the same city or town, or, if the voters reside in an unincorporated area, the same county, or the county prosecuting attorney. • The challenger must file a separate voter registration challenge form or official electronic voter challenge form for each voter whose registration challenged. • Challenges must be based on personal knowledge, which for these purposes is defined as firsthand knowledge through experience or observation of the facts upon each ground that the challenge is based and contains any documentation or evidence supporting the facts upon which each ground for the challenge is based. • Prior to notifying the voter of any challenge, the county auditor may conduct an initial review of the merits of the challenge. Please register your support for HB 1223 HERE. |
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Other PRIORITY Democracy Legislation to Be Introduced This Session: Washington VOICES Act for Ranked Choice Voting Summary: • The Washington VOICES Act standardizes how Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) must be implemented and establishes best practices for RCV voter education, ballot design, and administration. These guidelines, developed over decades of real-world RCV elections, ensure any jurisdictions that shift to RCV will do so uniformly and without experiencing stumbling blocks. • Today, nearly 13 million voters have used RCV in the US and election administrators have run hundreds of successful RCV elections. The Washington VOICES Act will ensure that jurisdictions are required to follow established best practices that have been learned since 2008, so that voters are properly educated on RCV and the implementation of RCV is done transparently and smoothly. |
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Join us in Olympia for these upcoming Lobby Days! |
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February 12, 2025 Join us for a day of advocating for voting justice, democracy and making our voices heard on February 12, 2025! Date & Time: Wednesday, February 12 · 8:30am - 4pm PT All participants must be registered by February 8th!
For years, Washington State has taken the lead in safeguarding voting rights. In 2025, enhancing our democracy is more crucial than ever. Join voting justice leaders and advocates from across Washington for Democracy Lobby Day 2025 on Wednesday, February 12th. Throughout the day, you will receive training on important democracy bills being discussed in the legislature, explore new policies to empower and expand the electorate, and engage directly with elected officials to encourage them to take action. -
Learn about priority democracy and voting justice bills. -
Continental breakfast provided. -
Meet and lobby your state legislators. -
Film screening of Majority Rules.
Sponsors: Washington Voting Justice Coalition, Washington for Equitable Representation, Fix Democracy First, Northwest Progressive Institute, and Washington Conservation Action. All participants must be registered by February 8th!
Contact tony@waconservationaction.org or cindy@fixdemocracyfirst.org for questions. |
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Date & Time: Wednesday, February 5 · 7:30am - 4pm PT Join FairVote Washington and ranked-choice voting (RCV) supporters from across Washington at our capitol in Olympia! We will be championing the Washington Voting Options, Implementation, Compliance, and Education Standards (VOICES) Act. This bill and lobby day are supported by the Washington Voting Justice Coalition and Washington for Equitable Representation. Your state leaders want to hear from you, and the most impactful way to do that is to talk to them face-to-face. Ranked-choice voting is needed, and we need YOU to make it happen. |
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