[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-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",[32,76,87,98,109],{"_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",6278725,"mediaKeyId","2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834","parentId",2636666,"title","Secretary of State warns federal cuts to ISACs, CISA staffing create ‘‘uncertainty and risk’’ for Washington elections","audioSeconds",1675,"startMs",1871885,"endMs",3547075,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834&start=1871&end=3547","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834/thumbnail_1871885.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278725/Washington/Secretary-of-State-warns-federal-cuts-to-ISACs-CISA-staffing-create-uncertainty-and-risk-for-Washington-elections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278725-ff2493d05fae5f91ceb8184c62e5eef0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447817&Signature=HVIyH1nYj4CXq7pZgddl9ycl~S6atdupKkGDXJD6o-GpppvcAOM5SrJBztY8iSsXg8107ILgLYZdb0DoeRL1U9daaamLpIoGCsboWlkaU8zlvCSnqevFRrnTNfbyL4fIc9u6Uk6Vdb8B47DneTtYasJaOGmno6RJ3uSx~CqDqwGQcLaSh16pCNAaaSseRb36b7zN5M0I7HrO7C873l3dH6IZdCfM7-TfzSXczaKBzMRhBl4JiWDGq4ZkFcu~MPhMVx-05fQleNA0sNznV4b-C9PK7Ynqn1JN~CGmRDAWLnYBbwnBVCaxQXaGh~-Pugl~6pQ5z~sRw2DuN2GajM4rwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-14T00:00:00Z","article","At a Feb. 14 briefing to the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Kylie Zabel, director of the Information Security and Response Division, warned that recent federal actions have reduced election-security support and created uncertainty for state and local election offices.

Hobbs described a pattern of foreign campaigns and cyber actors targeting U.S. election systems and said federal intelligence sharing and technical assistance have been critical partners. \"Elections are the foundation of our democracy,\" Hobbs said, urging a whole-of-society approach to defend them. He told lawmakers the federal government once alerted Washington to Russian IP addresses receiving state data and that federal notice allowed the state to respond quickly to a Clark County cyber incident.

Zabel summarized a timeline of federal actions: on Feb. 7 several CISA personnel were placed on administrative leave, which interrupted unclassified briefings and regional support; on Feb. 14 funding for the Elections Infrastructure ISAC was terminated; and on March 6 the Department of Homeland Security completed an internal review but declined to make the review public. DHS subsequently announced a $10 million cut to a cooperative agreement with the Center for Internet Security, representing approximately one-third of a $27 million program budget.

The cuts and staffing moves have already led to cancelled briefings and diminished access to CISA security advisors and regional supports, Zabel said. Core MSI-ISAC services currently expected to continue include ALBERT intrusion-detection sensors, malicious-domain blocking and reporting, endpoint detection and response (EDR), the NCSR self-assessment and the Security Operations Center, she said — but CIS has terminated core EI-ISAC programming and stakeholder engagement and is still evaluating next steps.

Zabel said the state office has estimated that replacing the services currently acquired through MS-ISAC membership could cost at least three times the amount Washington now pays. She also warned that many counties — including 15 identified as cyber-underserved — receive services at reduced or no cost through the ISAC structure and could be severely affected if services are eliminated. The office provides county grants of up to $80,000 per county per fiscal year for physical and cyber security improvements and has provided about $3.4 million to counties in the last two years, approaching $4.5 million by the end of the fiscal year.

Committee members asked whether the federal changes were intended to streamline services rather than eliminate them, and whether the changes raised the risk of opportunistic attacks. Hobbs and Zabel said the immediate operational impact was uncertain, but they expressed concern that adversaries do not pause while the U.S. government reconfigures support.

Both officials urged continued federal engagement and said the office will pursue contingency options and further discussions with the congressional delegation. Zabel said the earliest the state might see substantial changes in service availability is Oct. 1, tied to the federal fiscal year, but she cautioned that uncertainty remains and officials are monitoring developments daily.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee. Today, March 14, 2025 Time: 8:15 AM","oneSentenceSummary","At a Feb. 14 briefing to the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Kylie Zabel, director of the Information Security and Response Division, warned that recent federal actions have reduced election-security support and created uncertainty for state and local election offices.","taxTitle","State Government & Tribal Relations, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20271,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":46,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278721,"Bill would expand automatic voter registration; governor to decide which agencies participate",309,3856200,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834&start=3856&end=3547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834/thumbnail_3856200.jpg","/articles/6278721/Washington/Bill-would-expand-automatic-voter-registration-governor-to-decide-which-agencies-participate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278721-079841c55255672cfdfade00857021b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447817&Signature=d6DvzWlwgEBSOspcKCVrOTATqCz~pvnpeMytlfcq5vY36pn0SBP4FzcLYD0-nJGutbRYx~WE4Xw14Lw9TdiFwJu0NiepeSfr6iNCjmHvOTiu9YPVJvgf53AhvpmojS5Xkrlwm9WDrQgpMWm4~5faSKIJfVnkKzYnaTARc2w5r7Y7ASNzQS44y9wKMME6N20~dPs7hz7F05sbtakwI2T05T6RQZBQMmbCc~r5Bf0k5IM6k7Qokm78pNxq3KnWSQO~9N4b3O4totSfohbVP-EMFGdamw3lEcIK3ZoX-02YJZGTJ~idFAVHOnbVRmLf~1DUESScpePUfALAoDM1ZRAc1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff presented Senate Bill 5,077 at the Feb. 14 State Government & Tribal Relations Committee hearing, explaining the measure would broaden automatic voter registration (AVR) and automatic update pathways and give the governor a role in designating agencies that may implement them.

Connor Schiff, committee staff, said Washington already provides AVR through the Department of Licensing for eligible applicants for enhanced driver licenses or enhanced IDs and through designated state agencies that collect citizenship verification for public assistance. SB 5,077 would require the governor, in consultation with the Secretary of State’s office, to decide whether additional agencies that collect and store specified voter-identifying data (names, addresses, dates of birth, signatures, and citizenship verification via Social Security data match) may implement AVR. The governor also would decide whether agencies holding name, address and date-of-birth data may provide automatic updates to existing registrations.

The bill directs the Secretary of State’s office to implement AVR for applicants to the Health Benefit Exchange’s Washington Healthplanfinder marketplace if citizenship is reliably verified via an electronic match; implementation would be contingent on federal approval if required by CMS. The Healthplanfinder must notify applicants and allow an opt-out before information is shared. The bill also allows the Secretary of State to approve APIs so government agencies, institutions of higher education or third-party organizations can submit voter-registration applications online, provided such entities receive approval from the Secretary of State.

Senator Javier Valdez, the prime sponsor, said the measure aims to keep Washington at the forefront of registration access and stressed safeguards for compliance with state and federal law. Representatives raised questions about definitions of \"third-party organizations\" and the meaning of \"residents\" versus \"citizens\" in testimony; Valdez said the bill is intended to register eligible voters and that language around third parties could be refined.

The committee opened the hearing but deferred public testimony and further executive consideration until the bill is relisted next week; staff said witnesses who signed in would need to sign in again when the hearing is re-scheduled.","Staff presented Senate Bill 5,077 at the Feb. 14 State Government & Tribal Relations Committee hearing, explaining the measure would broaden automatic voter registration and give the governor a role in designating participating agencies.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":44,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278729,"State panel warned deepfakes complicate political advertising; disclosure rules, new law offer limited remedies",1832,39195,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834&start=39&end=1871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834/thumbnail_39195.jpg","/articles/6278729/Washington/State-panel-warned-deepfakes-complicate-political-advertising-disclosure-rules-new-law-offer-limited-remedies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278729-133f1771d8e5f2a356c985241f68f649/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447817&Signature=mXa5cpyLFzrNeqXH4wl5ZI77laPBzOVZNjVxLpRP3T5sM0p0KaUqoFKevnec1xVL337COW5Wr~6Lodtt39bvcbBVLGbnaZZxpUVmyHlL6duB7W-1wgANpAKWshjBsaMHBhXSRiSBkYyTpamAXsGOOEkuTMhnIrPGCD6FdBv0kEEQnQjF8sBnkg7wizR3CVe2i0aWqSek9sSuBwWDnQi--hiaT1YTbwsBD0~xlgpltYX9Mc7jy0rs7YwfVNumssVKE9A0mabESWLQDZA~mGHrXzBdyHf83zDQkuuv-QOGzx5XM3l2vzF3DiBa4fms4rF2H0QYbZBMssoiLlUf~NTmtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Feb. 14 work session of the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, Sean Flynn, general counsel for the Public Disclosure Commission, told legislators that advances in digital advertising and artificial intelligence have made it far harder to counter misinformation in political ads.

Flynn said courts place strong protection on political speech and noted precedents such as the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Alvarez, which limited government power to criminalize some false statements. He said Washington’s prior effort to bar false political advertising had been narrowed by courts and now reads largely like traditional defamation law.

\"The remedy for false speech is more speech,\" Flynn said, describing the general constitutional approach, but he added that digital advertising raises new challenges because of anonymity, targeting and the speed at which false content can spread. Flynn highlighted \"deepfakes,\" AI-generated audio or video that can make it appear a candidate said something they did not, and played a short example created from public footage to illustrate how realistic AI-generated voice can now sound.

Flynn described Washington’s recent deepfakes law, which creates a private cause of action allowing a candidate to seek a court injunction and to pursue damages for a materially misleading deepfake produced close to an election. He called the law an incremental step intended to respect First Amendment limits while giving candidates a civil remedy.

The PDC general counsel said the commission has also relied on existing disclosure requirements to help address AI-driven advertising. Commercial advertising recordkeeping rules require media sellers to keep records of advertising purchases, and PDC rules now expect disclosure when AI tools were used to create or disseminate political advertising. Flynn said the PDC’s rulemaking seeks records showing whether AI was used in ads and, where possible, the targeted audience that received the ad.

Flynn also noted that several states provide a safe harbor for advertisers who label manipulated content as such, and he described reporting and campaign-finance rules that require later disclosure of purchases of AI tools as part of campaign reporting.

Committee members asked questions about how to distinguish deepfakes from traditional photo editing or satire, and about enforcement and technical verification. Flynn said the level of manipulation and whether AI was used would be relevant factors, and that the PDC’s focus is disclosure of AI use and sponsor identification rather than compelling companies to reveal proprietary algorithms.

The session closed with lawmakers thanking Flynn for the briefing and noting the need for continued attention as AI and advertising technologies evolve.","At a Feb. 14 State Government & Tribal Relations Committee work session, the Public Disclosure Commission outlined how artificial-intelligence tools and targeted digital advertising can spread misleading political content and described Washington’s recent law creating a private legal remedy for candidates targeted by deepfakes.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278711,"Committee reviews national military/overseas voting standards and debates secure electronic ballot return for UOCAVA voters",0,4600995,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834&start=4600&end=4600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834/thumbnail_4600995.jpg","/articles/6278711/Washington/Committee-reviews-national-militaryoverseas-voting-standards-and-debates-secure-electronic-ballot-return-for-UOCAVA-voters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278711-b4a3e09004114c2c13ae355d1a57d9b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447817&Signature=RC7X42P7pYuKxMGBq-WjFCPvW2Vmxtmj10j-APZ8M2rP2LWH2y~bcVVJvGNx831KKSf3h4O1ibh9h6eLhFow3~XsITMpKbZnMWRpB0chV80y7H0tXrsiUm1fpD9ijEKTZ-~TzqsyAd6Db3HKpFBcoPD8hU67VTDIq18GrqnieM8N1z6hM5OkQkp0UhQp7fqUSNXSiD-q-X2B4AaQBgjPhRYEosltr12p76dMheSmu2Mth1gCuZYe1xmaA6jURRToF7PLvn8Z4xq3aQUZwZ7rQOfuTzmzoxtyxJgnj~Um8Q0uwqSp-TP2JysG0WRwpiGT-Aw6DV6~cFyMR01-1cQz3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 14 hearing, committee staff presented Substitute Senate Bill 5,017, which would adopt the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act (UMOVA) to incorporate federal protections for service and overseas voters into state law and expand some definitions and administrative processes.

Desiree Omley, Office of Program Research staff, summarized key changes: UMOVA adopts federal UOCAVA protections for service and overseas voters and extends them in limited ways for state and local elections; the bill expands the definition of overseas voters to include certain persons who would have been eligible to vote in Washington but for residency requirements, and it requires county auditors to collect email addresses from service and overseas registrants to transmit ballot and process information.

The bill also requires the Secretary of State to explore options for an electronic ballot-return portal for service and overseas voters; such a portal must be tested for security, ensure voter secrecy and privacy, prevent multiple votes by a single voter, keep records of return attempts and be authorized by statute before deployment. The secretary must file annual status reports on development, with the last report due Dec. 1, 2028.

The committee heard multiple public-testimony positions. Alyssa Barba, policy staff for the Secretary of State’s office, testified in strong support, noting the bill adopts national standards and would improve access for covered voters. Pierce County Auditor Linda Farmer (representing the Washington State Association of County Auditors) supported the bill, citing Pierce County’s roughly 18,000 military/overseas voters and noting UOCAVA turnout lagged statewide in 2024. Several security and voting-integrity organizations testified in opposition to the electronic-return portal provision: CJ Coles of Verified Voting said, \"It is not safe. It is insecure,\" and urged removal of the portal language; Susan Greenhall of Free Speech for People warned that a centralized portal would be an attractive target for malicious actors. The Secretary of State’s Director of Elections, Stuart Holmes, told the committee that online voting return for ballots remains unsafe and that Washington’s paper-based system and post-election audits are critical to election security.

Other public testimony raised constitutional concerns about expanding the overseas-voter definition to include people who were never U.S. residents. Laura Lee Gates testified in opposition on that ground and noted that several states that adopted UMOVA carved that cohort out of the model act.

The committee received the testimony and indicated it would continue deliberations. Staff noted a fiscal note was pending for the substitute bill.","Substitute Senate Bill 5,017 would adopt the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act and requires the Secretary of State to explore a secure electronic ballot portal for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters; the committee heard supporters citing access and opponents urging removal of any online ballot-return provisions for security reasons.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278716,"Committee hears friendly bill to make \"Evergreen State\" Washington's official nickname",330,4463090,4793865,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834&start=4463&end=4793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636666-f518bcf55acc26cc86c24671d6585834/thumbnail_4463090.jpg","/articles/6278716/Washington/Committee-hears-friendly-bill-to-make-Evergreen-State-Washingtons-official-nickname","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278716-3388021c55f26b2fed3bacd0e9cfecf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447817&Signature=JvNu~XBjUe6Xj-hl2PzDxRmndn2M9z7KDBJRTcadG4bEWDIsugkbY-jNvP~yVknLi-~RpWX1pDNqlOJIVOsV0SEHrqk3C0PXegPg5XZzObptSKMWuB4OoRPIQdU4ZP58qKc238EyhD26GbpLUajLJkVYQ4Z9CaJaz7av~2WkB3H65UeMY9TXNH1~sKLUgTpN3TkyuDdUVSMKb3vSJi3NaO4CoCRgRtgIYr1UhzM38V8CgxvYkMhjcrIZcElhWBSRLrEzGQq1LpO23XpuSAT5SZMOKrZYyxBVxhj-3SebGhN5LXxaQhA58s~CVVjJgnYerL6l8~4xBZP~VVKqNbpsNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 14 committee meeting, staff briefed members on Senate Bill 5,000, which would designate \"Evergreen State\" as Washington’s official state nickname. Connor Schiff, committee staff, explained the nickname dates to the late 1800s and has appeared on license plates, memorabilia and the 2007 state quarter.

Senator Jeff Wilson, the bill’s sponsor, described the measure as a short, familiar designation that formalizes a longstanding nickname. There were no testifiers signed to speak on the bill, and the committee chair closed the hearing after the sponsor’s brief remarks.","Senate Bill 5,000 would designate \"Evergreen State\" as Washington’s official nickname; sponsor said the name has been used since the late 1800s and the committee received a short sponsor briefing and closed the hearing with no public testimony.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Secretary of State warns federal cuts to ISACs, CISA staffing create ‘‘uncertainty and risk’’ for Washington elections

Bill would expand automatic voter registration; governor to decide which agencies participate

State panel warned deepfakes complicate political advertising; disclosure rules, new law offer limited remedies

Committee reviews national military/overseas voting standards and debates secure electronic ballot return for UOCAVA voters

Committee hears friendly bill to make "Evergreen State" Washington's official nickname