[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6329753,"mediaKeyId","2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d","parentId",2315658,"title","Senate committee adopts substitute for electioneering law; three Wilson amendments fail","audioSeconds",1162,"startMs",75000,"endMs",1237000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d&start=75&end=1237","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d/thumbnail_75000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329753/Washington/Senate-committee-adopts-substitute-for-electioneering-law-three-Wilson-amendments-fail","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329753-a6f14822474a5e18f4f1c6d677f81e52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196334&Signature=oxQetlIaTUaM2pe9bPiQMG630-MZx2x86PLsbBH4sEe-mh5dFApAfVCIpGWYcUYmgyS9fJi6UUXMx6zGqTIArinAeWCPyfZ4nSbySwkqrQSr~~DmIpTEM9V43PHbFvXlRjEINGhvY4AwPYraqYr7B2mLzZo2q9PP5~~UVEi1PJWnQOYWvYNE4xPP10QJdJMnOC53OH3WLUcTDP~pExVFEFCqt9o-0eSCiyr7SqS4tAgdBAPBqf2V1wnXrvPGF1SRQ~NlJONOEi-wS-Xdl2ckDKXoOQznuTD4WGyEbGYoAI37s~R4Svdbz~EVq~~eFUR7Ad6abCaEwg~73ZTqMva3gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","Senators in the State Government & Elections Committee voted to approve a proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5,684 on Feb. 14, moving the measure forward for final action. The substitute clarifies that a parking lot adjacent to a building that contains a county division of elections or a county auditor’s office is covered only when the lot is county owned, operated, and routinely used for parking at that building.

The substitute matters because it narrows where the statute would prohibit influencing or interfering with voters, limiting the bill’s geographic reach to county-owned lots rather than broadly applying to all adjacent land. The committee’s action follows debate about how to balance voter access, free-speech protections, and enforceability of the law.

Committee staff briefed members that the original bill expands the locations where a person may not influence or interfere with a voter inside buildings that house county election divisions and in adjacent parking lots. Senator Wilson offered three amendments to the proposed substitute. Amendment A1 would have required permanent markings and signage to show regulated distances (including language about aerial distances and drone technology). Amendment A2 would have required issuing a warning for a person’s first violation, leaving subsequent violations as gross misdemeanors. Amendment A3 would have clarified that tattoos, clothing, or minor paraphernalia are not electioneering absent intent to influence.

Senator Wilson argued the measures were modest educational safeguards: \"This protects everybody's rights and we know what side to be on,\" she said, urging adoption of the amendments. Other members objected that the amendments were either too broad or risked imposing obligations on county auditors to mark or paint property they do not own, and that providing a first-offense warning statewide would be difficult to track and could be seen as a de facto \"free pass.\" After debate, each amendment was put to voice vote and failed.

After amendments were defeated, the vice chair moved that the proposed substitute receive a due-pass recommendation and be sent to the Rules Committee. The chair later ruled that the bill \"has passed subject to signatures.\" The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the final action.

Discussion and questions during debate focused on (1) whether the parking-lot limitation should require county ownership and routine use for parking, (2) enforcement mechanisms and who would record or track warnings, and (3) the longstanding treatment of clothing and tattoos as potential electioneering in state law. Committee members who spoke against parts of the bill cited concerns about scope, potential legal challenges, and whether the bill would cast too broad a net for an infrequent problem.

No statutory citations were presented on the record during the executive session briefing; committee staff summarized how the substitute would change current practice. The committee did not adopt any of Senator Wilson’s amendments and approved the substitute for passage.

Votes at a glance from the executive-session discussion were made by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript. The committee will forward the substitute under the normal signature process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections - 2/14/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senators in the State Government & Elections Committee voted to approve a proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5,684 that narrows prohibited electioneering locations to county-owned parking lots adjacent to election offices.","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},6329743,"Committee advances two bills and reports five gubernatorial appointments",1073,228000,1301000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d&start=228&end=1301","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d/thumbnail_228000.jpg","/articles/6329743/Washington/Committee-advances-two-bills-and-reports-five-gubernatorial-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329743-9dc7dbdae08edcec1ad6ee5ec2200f78/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196334&Signature=fzAprJxHqKGK8ih5flh~5ahuzh5oVPWGBu-plAYoR3Yk-NZ-cEJzHPa7Qe-wnqV8B8A86~HEpPlNX-MEe-cSog1~Orfs~QsHV1p-ScVFeiz3ZZF0h69Bw3LBiZTVUBC18iekgi9o69ZEEFw-Bsi7HO87MUJIWW~BWa~Sg3Yq4WPvwN2-fjprqhwWDzJukd47DoMQMzFw77VXFeDXDIHC5gFtSHLrMUEO~ZLnu3gP8jDoPXBNL2Pf7JOjtvFJ-d0Nvsc0Csbg4O4K0vh8H~DkslvhV8OsmUKppH-48twWZ0g29pmWukL7~-3~WPkgyU67KyFFCcHwxZVPcT07G3TOCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate State Government & Elections Committee recorded final actions on multiple items during its Feb. 14 session. Two bills were advanced and five gubernatorial appointments were reported with recommendations that the Senate confirm them; one bill (SB 5,434) received a public hearing earlier in the meeting.

Key outcomes:

• Senate Bill 5,420 (Space Force / veterans and uniformed service definition): Committee staff briefed the item and the committee moved that the bill receive a due-pass recommendation to the Ways & Means Committee. The motion was adopted by voice vote; the chair ruled the bill \"has passed subject to signatures.\" Committee staff summarized that the bill expands definitions to recognize the U.S. Space Force so state benefits could apply when appropriate and to facilitate potential National Guard organizational changes. Committee discussion included questions about which state-provided benefits would be affected and whether the state bears additional cost when National Guard units are federally activated.

• Senate Bill 5,684 (electioneering): A proposed substitute to SB 5,684 was adopted and the bill was advanced; see separate article for detailed debate and failed amendments.

• Gubernatorial appointments reported with recommendation to confirm (committee action recorded as \"reported with recommendation that the appointment be confirmed,\" subject to signatures):
- Appointment 09/2007, James Oswald — moved and seconded; committee recommended confirmation.
- Appointment 9143, Allison Holub — moved and seconded; committee recommended confirmation.
- Appointment 9144, Yolanda King Lowe — moved and seconded; committee recommended confirmation (a vocal nay was recorded but chair ruled confirmation recommendation subject to signatures).
- Appointment 9145, Malia Mullen — moved and seconded; committee recommended confirmation.
- Appointment 9163, Christina Cobdish — moved and seconded; committee recommended confirmation.

All recommendations and bill referrals in the executive session were recorded by voice vote; the transcript does not include roll-call tallies for these actions. SB 5,434 (the \"Balance Act\") was heard in public testimony and no final committee disposition was recorded on the hearing record.

The transcript did not include explicit vote counts for the bills and appointments; committee members used voice votes and the chair announced that items \"passed subject to signatures\" or were \"reported with recommendation.\"","At the Feb. 14 meeting the committee advanced SB 5,420 and SB 5,684 (substitute) and reported five gubernatorial appointments with recommendations for confirmation; SB 5,434 received a public hearing (no vote recorded).",{"_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},6329748,"Senate hears 'Balance Act' to give legislature a role in terminating declared emergencies",2859,1537000,4396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d&start=1537&end=4396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315658-c726f2c22d927853267b09eb04dcda2d/thumbnail_1537000.jpg","/articles/6329748/Washington/Senate-hears-Balance-Act-to-give-legislature-a-role-in-terminating-declared-emergencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329748-0cf24aaf6fa509fc03a5db7c7d8b2688/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196334&Signature=ac6cJrnAHv2oWA7DVmdne-3MPCbqt4ffwPMQrhOgWGYfECXwvWUaMqoUQa4GMO2Q7Im5ajWmPtVrId5OyRui5HKgYK7cRkHV~qCin1ZlGQGLIWrvbUu9UwV6JCl9msKyTzH3gx8CIEm8dECwM1W8a5maZoDzgtVmJMpLcU3trCS3LByphAT3Tp4APmN94JvRRnM7LtHe9TFIEv8YxfjscNc~FUA8e4UBuYV45mZuI-mdnqKJi~nJL85vXr5xtLPuc2kPk1i6W16r5FEJwQTkd-4Aai-7Tjh4jcxvfHVtj8TRfIl6YReYTFAxW6bOmOaXhbrlsXS0gcd2dSoAfzybdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,434, described by sponsor Senator Keith Wagner as the \"Balance Act,\" received a public hearing on Feb. 14 in the Senate State Government & Elections Committee. The bill would authorize the legislature to terminate a governor-declared state of emergency via concurrent resolution when in session, and would permit the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and minority leader of the House (the four leaders) to terminate a state of emergency in writing when the legislature is not in session and the emergency has continued for 90 days.

The bill also applies the existing 30-day statutory limit to gubernatorial orders that waive or suspend statutory obligations or limitations, so such waiver orders would automatically expire after 30 days unless extended by the legislature under the same procedures that now apply to prohibition orders. Committee staff summarized current law: governors may issue orders that prohibit activities (for example, public gatherings) and orders that waive statutory requirements; the latter currently require extension by the legislature (if in session) or by leadership outside session under existing statute for certain categories of orders.

Senator Wagner framed the bill as preserving urgent executive action while restoring legislative oversight after the acute phase of an emergency: \"This is the balance act and, I think every high school student and newly minted citizen understands that our government is based on checks and balances,\" he said. The sponsor emphasized the bill \"does not change the actions the governor may take\" during the initial emergency; it only limits how long those actions remain exclusively under the governor’s unilateral authority.

Staff and members discussed how similar limits have been enacted in other states since 2020; committee staff cited Virginia (which limits executive orders to 45 days without legislative action) and Arizona (an initial proclamation limited to 30 days with further extensions subject to legislative approval). Committee staff offered to compile additional comparisons and to report whether other states require special majorities for legislative termination.

Several committee members asked detailed questions about mechanics and judicial or administrative consequences. Senators raised concerns that, in practice, a single majority caucus could block an extension during session and that outside of session the written four-leader agreement (the \"four corners\" practice) might give a small number of leaders outsized influence. Committee staff clarified that during a session the bill would require concurrent resolution from both chambers and that outside session extensions require written agreement from all four leaders; if the leaders do not provide a written statement, the order would not be extended.

The governor’s office (represented by Nathan Bays, deputy policy director) testified in support and requested two technical changes shared with the sponsor: (1) include a role for the Military Department to inform the legislature of impacts or consequences of ending a state of emergency, and (2) align the duration of emergency actions to the duration of the state of emergency (so waiver orders do not outlast the emergency). The governor’s office said those changes had been discussed with the sponsor and provided to committee leadership.

A broad set of stakeholders testified in favor of the bill or in support with reservations. Former Senator Linda Wilson (sponsor of an earlier related bill) supported restoring legislative authority, saying passage would \"restore checks and balances between all branches of government.\" Business and industry groups including the Washington Policy Center, Associated General Contractors, NFIB, and the Association of Washington Business voiced support, citing the need for legislative oversight on budgetary and regulatory actions during prolonged emergencies. Former Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson and other local-government or first-responder witnesses said incident-management models and multiagency coordination support the bill’s intent to bring more voices into the post-acute phase of a crisis.

Some testifiers and commenters raised concerns that the bill does not go far enough or that language about out-of-session termination and extensions should be clarified. Testimony from Jeff Pack (Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes) and others urged clearer statutory language about what constitutes written agreement by the four leaders, and a minority of speakers described the bill as a small incremental change rather than a comprehensive fix.

No committee vote on SB 5,434 was recorded in the hearing; the item was heard as a public hearing and no committee disposition is shown on the record.

The bill’s sponsors and staff agreed to follow up with additional state comparisons, and the governor’s office requested statutory language to ensure Military Department consultation and alignment of action duration with the declared emergency period.","Senate Bill 5,434 would let the legislature terminate a governor-declared state of emergency by concurrent resolution when in session and allow the four legislative leaders to terminate it in writing after 90 days if the legislature is not in session; bill would also apply existing 30-day limits to statutory-waiver orders.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee adopts substitute for electioneering law; three Wilson amendments fail

Committee advances two bills and reports five gubernatorial appointments

Senate hears 'Balance Act' to give legislature a role in terminating declared emergencies