WashingtonHB 17102025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Concerning compliance with the Washington voting rights act of 2018.

Sponsored By: Sharlett Mena (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Covered areas named and posted online

By July 1 of every even-numbered year, the Attorney General names which local governments are covered. The decision uses Census or American Community Survey data and becomes effective when written notice is sent. The Attorney General keeps a public website that lists all covered areas, all submissions for certificates, supporting documents, and each submission’s status. The site is updated every six months.

State review of local voting changes

Covered local governments must send any change that affects elections to the Attorney General. The policy does not take effect until the Attorney General issues a certificate of no objection. The Attorney General only certifies a change that does not reduce a protected group’s ability to vote or elect their choices and that follows state and federal law. The Attorney General has 60 days to object and can extend review twice by 90 days each. If there is no objection in time, certification is treated as issued. The Attorney General can recheck a submission if new facts come up.

Law ends if not funded by 2026

This law stays in place only if the Legislature provides specific funding by June 30, 2026. If that funding is not in the omnibus budget bill by that date, the law becomes null and void.

How these rules are enforced in court

The Attorney General can sue in local superior court or Thurston County to stop a covered policy and force compliance. Courts can pause a policy while a case is decided. If the Attorney General objects to a submission, only the jurisdiction can appeal that objection, and election cases move faster. Any aggrieved person can sue to challenge an improper certification or to make a jurisdiction seek certification. Organizations can sue for their members without naming them, and courts review these certification challenges from scratch. After a certificate is issued or upheld, new suits over the same policy are generally barred for four years unless the policy changes. Some appeals and Attorney General actions are still allowed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Sharlett Mena
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Alex Ramel
Democratic • House
April Berg
Democratic • House
Beth Doglio
Democratic • House
Brianna Thomas
Democratic • House
Chipalo Street
Democratic • House
Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Darya Farivar
Democratic • House
Edwin Obras
Democratic • House
Gerry Pollet
Democratic • House
Greg Nance
Democratic • House
Janice Zahn
Democratic • House
Joe Timmons
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Julio Cortes
Democratic • House
Kristine Reeves
Democratic • House
Lisa Parshley
Democratic • House
Liz Berry
Democratic • House
Mary Fosse
Democratic • House
Mia Gregerson
Democratic • House
Monica Jurado Stonier
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Nicole Macri
Democratic • House
Osman Salahuddin
Democratic • House
Roger Goodman
Democratic • House
Shaun Scott
Democratic • House
Strom Peterson
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 144 • No: 97

House vote • 3/11/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 57 • No: 39 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/4/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 30 • No: 19

House vote • 2/12/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage