[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339678,"mediaKeyId","2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4","parentId",2260881,"title","Committee hears bill to add Space Force and uniformed services to state benefits definitions","audioSeconds",405,"startMs",1732000,"endMs",2137000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4&start=1732&end=2137","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4/thumbnail_1732000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339678/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-add-Space-Force-and-uniformed-services-to-state-benefits-definitions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339678-3ca7782aea179413a22e7513769db8ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137998&Signature=IAeDuR7rVrO1fZdnVMyhAFfIGxV4Lju69TK62gHqueaSYtaxs9sJdLJqXID9lMIdZhquLuOBpY-gxd0lfe1UU9trkO2N4vHEbMx8hnvX-6EdVkBLSaS3b2aVkE-z3SqSBcnSR9GzzrjIEOpCox2~YztPUfE8CY79zJz43dzVXrEH0zTR~SKpsTMv4sMPkVxIAD~sVJWeSuCeocoNXyJ-GN3JH8KrE4DjTcHXGefvkPKKSuUfUTTETTQkI9ca9CXFUtCE5DatvZwU6N6UYc1loVeClx0CYDW55366RKPnxbEDViqaIudeLJ7tAob23gnaCZh6~kIrWPftEEP1~LYOUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Feb. 11 heard Senate Bill 5420, which would align Washington’s definitions for armed forces and uniformed services with federal law and explicitly recognize the U.S. Space Force for state benefits and preferences.

Committee staff explained the bill updates definitions so that the U.S. Space Force is recognized as part of the organized militia of the state and that the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps are treated consistently with other uniformed services. Staff said the change will conform state law with federal definitions and facilitate benefits such as civil-service hiring and pension credit, and could support integration of a Space Force unit into the state National Guard if such a unit were based in Washington.

Senator John Lubbock, sponsor and a Coast Guard veteran, said the bill recognizes service members and their families and helps provide employment opportunities, career continuity and reduced administrative waste. Tammy Perot of the Department of Defense testified in support, saying the bill took several years of interagency work to ensure Space Force and uniformed-service members are covered by state laws in the same way as other service branches.

Staff said a fiscal note was requested; no committee action was taken in the hearing record. The committee received testimony in support and closed the hearing; staff reported 71 pro respondents and no written opposition.

Sponsors and defense representatives urged the committee to move the bill to executive session and to the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections - 2/11/2025 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5420 would align Washington’s definitions of armed forces and uniformed services with federal law by explicitly recognizing the U.S. Space Force and including members of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps for certain state benefits.","taxTitle","State Government & Elections, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20511,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339682,"Committee adopts substitute requiring capital committee review of major campus projects and more frequent meetings",281,137000,418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4&start=137&end=418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4/thumbnail_137000.jpg","/articles/6339682/Washington/Committee-adopts-substitute-requiring-capital-committee-review-of-major-campus-projects-and-more-frequent-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339682-99602f586bcbb94510abae8028d7fb7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137998&Signature=fIaA050uiVhWSjXw1zXhu0NuaLhb5q7v3doqdygXnsl3xrcd5qQFVz5mI-0AUPnJOi~21yBoHA3I56c3ssa400jq~gf9wLSJ~Deg5nrpoh04dXLJHm7q5XUAa5K6iV9V7ZKGAP8me5avgWpa26AHVAIf6xGo7WtPTVE-MbL8KzCkkW1oq6Mb-YjQ~mpVZvt6eMSSk4W9G3vMU4n2esDbNBvdoLLEATF6-jbgtcf0ZZuXlXufey18DInfn6OUgbd-ppLB03codDP3Vm8KhFzqNCw4~kE4WzBazI2CCzi-0I-msaQwHD-JkKEOdBwRvZw4hOn3zZhwC59DQ5-y83kuHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Feb. 11 adopted proposed substitute B to Senate Bill 5522, which revises oversight of the state capitol campus and the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) reporting requirements.

Staff said the substitute directs the capital committee to review DES’s 10‑year capital plan, modifies the dates by which DES must present information and the dates by which the capital committee must make recommendations, adjusts the definition of “capital campus,” requires the capital committee to meet four times a year, defines “major capital projects” and specifies that only major capital projects are subject to capital-committee review and approval. The substitute also removes a requirement that the capital committee review and approve artwork in public spaces on the campus.

Madam Vice Chair moved the adoption of proposed substitute B; the committee adopted the substitute and later voted to send substitute B with a \"due pass\" recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Members on the floor thanked the Governor’s Office and the Lieutenant Governor for working on the changes; a sponsor thanked capital budget writers who will monitor the bill as it moves through Ways and Means.

Committee discussion noted the substitute addresses concerns raised by the Governor’s Office and clarifies which campus buildings the bill covers. No roll-call tally was announced in the hearing record and a fiscal note was available, the staff report said. Members expressed general support, with multiple members commending the sponsor and stakeholder cooperation.

The committee’s adoption advances the substitute to the Ways and Means Committee for budget review.","The Senate committee adopted proposed substitute B to Senate Bill 5522 on Feb. 11, narrowing capital-committee review to major campus projects, setting quarterly meetings and revising DES reporting dates.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339686,"Senate committee removes signature requirement in candidate-filing bill substitute",236,87000,323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4&start=87&end=323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4/thumbnail_87000.jpg","/articles/6339686/Washington/Senate-committee-removes-signature-requirement-in-candidate-filing-bill-substitute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339686-418f080804eb0584f31da0ba642e1271/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137998&Signature=lc0pj3I0tYw0NGXokznHCEuB5~4gfJOnd4lEDbKjgMr2WpPj7Ejhia14O5iYu1I6OQ77q-wkk6tn6h676JqMdiv1Jj4MisLRfP0j2P48nAJ23dyfqoevGjKlnHBZrmj-l1wH2vSHcU9RVev2CzEyGx5q-nHevUmqWUAKbIeL4EDTiiJuClcQS4bYsYuT77m4JoGoufmzAbZqKM4wHdUyVugUgCdb50WoCWXfanOsKqCj6LH0OK7n6fjesFhf3AS72z87wgdt8v4X46LQtUmW-XbJMGEg6wW8jwSlJo9W6i9y1zIb5LMfkvWrvxxAiEF8DCjSTDYXTjemeyXNj16uvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Feb. 11 adopted a proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5225 that removes provisions on filing fees and candidate signature petitions for certain offices while leaving rules for candidates with similar names.

Committee staff described the substitute as striking the provisions relating to filing fees and signature petitions for candidates for the Washington State Legislature, statewide offices and the U.S. Congress while retaining the two provisions that address situations when candidates for the same office have similar names.

Committee chair moved the adoption of proposed substitute A; after brief remarks and an indication from members that the bill needed further vetting, the committee voted and the chair ruled that the substitute passed. The chair then said the bill \"has passed subject to signatures.\"

Senator John Lubbock (introducing other legislation earlier) and other members commented that the provisions on signature petitions had not been fully vetted during the hearing record. Senator Wilson said the bill \"needs a lot more work\" and indicated her side would not seek to block further progress but expected continued discussion as the bill moves forward.

The substitute narrows the subject matter removed to the filing-fee/signature-petition sections; staff noted the substitute does not affect the provisions addressing candidate name similarity. No formal vote tally was announced in the hearing record. No additional amendments or fiscal impacts were reported during the executive-session action.

The committee’s action advances the bill to the next steps in the legislative process; sponsors and staff indicated they expect continued work on the measure as it moves forward.","The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee adopted a proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5225 that removes provisions on filing fees and signature petitions for certain candidates and kept name-similarity rules; the bill passed the committee subject to signatures.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339667,"Committee hears five gubernatorial appointees for Public Disclosure Commission and Washington State Women’s Commission",1120,512000,1632000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4&start=512&end=1632","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6339667/Washington/Committee-hears-five-gubernatorial-appointees-for-Public-Disclosure-Commission-and-Washington-State-Womens-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339667-a5b9f8762f4dbcf852d5c8d3cf3569b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137998&Signature=m~iaYEQJl41ml8my1sHACt~v7PwLJHT3ebMASGHLBwPbyrdKDrXXBYh3nk36hR2wf7pF-WShpli1c47ldGecXRbPx7IFjQVpjSoVSSOCbQKIAV9riQ6g04c-noguInHkDoMMjjqnEeU-yPGkjdLDesUn2iCtRIvpqBOgZzaGC3~vJMnkWe-57po1jkW~Y~e3jgSH-KCR8SO~MHnhQyHlokUflhSqvYHeoGXBfMdHSF2L8-Xibt7rNRe-HFJp9ziuL1HtRdVC624t~Cmlv-LR6g~4uyFCfun3gKfvsmTTQB0kWryqur1KSOIq6xPJt5rzsTUQ-O1UcK8aP09~Rs6t~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Feb. 11 heard five gubernatorial appointments: James Oswald for the Public Disclosure Commission and four nominees to the Washington State Women’s Commission — Allison Ford Holub, Yolanda King Lowe, Malia Mullen (Rosiah) and Christina Cobdish.

Each nominee provided sworn testimony under Senate Rule 69. James Oswald, appearing remotely, described a long career in campaign finance and election-related law, said he retired from the bar at the end of 2023 and said the Public Disclosure Commission is working to manage a high volume of administrative complaints and to simplify and better-target administrative processes. Oswald told the committee he did not see outstanding statutory changes the commission needed from the Legislature right now but said the PDC was working internally to balance administrative complaint resolution and when the commission should be more involved in formal proceedings.

Allison Ford Holub described her background in government affairs and public policy, her work as senior public policy manager for Uber Technologies in the Pacific Northwest, and her volunteer work on pay-equity events including the Commission’s Activate 3.8 pay equity tour. She said she is a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and lives in Tacoma.

Yolanda King Lowe said she has worked in health care for most of her career, is secretary-treasurer of SEIU Healthcare 1199 Northwest, has worked at Swedish Hospital and serves as a racial-justice facilitator. She said her lived experience as a Black woman and health-care professional informs her approach to equity and inclusion on the commission.

Malia Mullen (Rosiah) described long-term residency in Washington state, her work with the Commission’s economic safety and security committee, and her role as executive director of Dress for Success Seattle, which provides clothing, career services, digital-literacy and financial-education programs.

Christina Cobdish said she was first appointed to the commission in 2021, serves as vice chair and co-chair of the economic security and opportunity committee, and works as chief strategy officer at Unity Care Northwest. She noted recent commission work including the 2023–24 biannual report and the 2025–26 strategic plan.

Committee members asked clarifying questions in a cordial exchange. For example, committee members asked Mullen to confirm availability for day meetings — she said she would review and correct an application entry she believed may have been an error and would follow up with staff. Senators and the chair thanked each nominee for service; hearings were closed and no committee confirmation votes were recorded in the Feb. 11 transcript.","The committee received sworn testimony from five gubernatorial appointees — James Oswald (Public Disclosure Commission reappointment) and four nominees to the Washington State Women’s Commission — describing their backgrounds and priorities; hearings were closed with no recorded committee votes.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339671,"Bill would expand electioneering ban to county elections buildings and adjacent parking lots after repeated incidents in King County",1115,2163000,3278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4&start=2163&end=3278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260881-39777479ff6ad9437e707319662b88d4/thumbnail_2163000.jpg","/articles/6339671/Washington/Bill-would-expand-electioneering-ban-to-county-elections-buildings-and-adjacent-parking-lots-after-repeated-incidents-in-King-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339671-5d98d2a810274021fdeedee3898f138a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137998&Signature=EykA8rcL919Boonm61IDIWhk39tlhvDMwJcK82dE550fgvVVpgmqUTP1zdK7FT7h8wXDTy628mQCq2oRgt3PpCU0sv~0lobt9cUluAAtME2-97sY~cNrmA8yVp6RGV4muEXZLbZn80j~sQLYRXAY4-yUbSH0psasm95fW~-nMPiDIVjb0crA~J~ND8GYeXVncVOpWwHG0RoAk3SNMj9b0RNP4hhm9osioyBl6R3-aS3dVynB7Vjya13U02Q2qDeEMx6Q6DGZYEjkGnCYunxBltuRqLCuupjvJDTI4G9jolk4lhochrhb4YQ55c8DZDaVfjbx-1Wmcao-kIUdIdXbUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5684, heard Feb. 11 by the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee, would expand the locations where electioneering and efforts to influence voters are prohibited during the 18 days preceding an election and through election day.

Under current law staff described at the hearing, electioneering is a gross misdemeanor if done within 100 feet of a vote center or student engagement hub and within 25 feet of a ballot drop box. Committee staff said the bill expands those prohibited locations to include \"the building that contains the division of elections for a county auditor's office, including any parking lot adjacent to the building and routinely used for parking at that building and any routes of access between the building and any parking lot.\"

Sponsor Senator Claudia Kaufman said the change is a \"very simple, very common sense fix\" meant to ensure voters can access election offices \"without pressure or interference.\" King County Director of Elections Julie Wise testified in support, describing repeated incidents in which campaign trailers or RVs parked in the back third of the county-owned Elections parking lot — an area that extends beyond 100 feet from the facility door — and placed large signs and campaign materials visible to voters coming and going.

Committee members raised constitutional and practical questions. Staff and counsel noted courts would examine First Amendment implications and whether a parking lot is a public forum; staff cited a Ninth Circuit case striking a 300-foot restriction on exit pollers in past precedent and said the forum and tailoring analysis would be for a court to decide. Members asked how the bill would apply when the county-owned parking lot is shared with private businesses, how to treat routine non-election activities at sites (for example, fire stations that host community services), and whether signs on private buildings would be covered. King County Elections told the committee the parking lot at its Renton facility is county-owned and has recurring incidents — multiple campaigns and different individuals have used the back lot repeatedly, staff said.

Julie Wise said King County has posted signs showing existing distances (100 feet or 25 feet as applicable) but an RV used in recent incidents was outside the existing 100-foot protected zone. She said the county's attorneys advised that, because part of the parking lot sits outside current statutory distances, the county could not prohibit parking the RV under existing law. In the hearing record, staff reported 231 written respondents (226 pro, 5 con).

No committee action was recorded on Feb. 11. Committee members indicated interest in clarifying statutory language and how the bill would apply to mixed-use parking lots and private property; staff and future witnesses were expected to help address those details in follow-up.","Senate Bill 5684 would extend the state’s electioneering prohibitions to include county elections buildings, adjacent parking lots routinely used for parking and access routes between them; King County Elections and the bill sponsor said the change closes a gap that has allowed campaign RVs and signs to be placed outside the current buffer zones.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to add Space Force and uniformed services to state benefits definitions

Committee adopts substitute requiring capital committee review of major campus projects and more frequent meetings

Senate committee removes signature requirement in candidate-filing bill substitute

Committee hears five gubernatorial appointees for Public Disclosure Commission and Washington State Women’s Commission

Bill would expand electioneering ban to county elections buildings and adjacent parking lots after repeated incidents in King County