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WashingtonHB 17502025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Creating guidelines for voter suppression and vote dilution claims under the Washington voting rights act.

Sponsored By: Natasha Hill (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Up to $50,000 to notice senders

If a court orders relief or a local government adopts a fix, the person, group, or tribe that sent the notice can get paid back for research costs. Send a written demand within 30 days and include proof of costs. The government must pay within 60 days, up to $50,000 total.

Stops rules that burden protected voters

The law bans local election rules that place a material disparate burden on members of protected classes. You do not need to prove intent to discriminate to bring a claim. Courts cannot rely on listed factors like how many voters were not burdened or that other places use the same rule. A local government can still defend a rule only by proving, with clear and convincing evidence, it is narrowly tailored to a compelling state interest and no less‑burdensome option exists.

Stronger tools to fix vote dilution

The law bans election methods that dilute a protected class’s voting power. Courts can order fixes like district elections, crossover or coalition districts, or more county commissioners (for tribal status cases). New district maps must have near‑equal population, be compact and contiguous, preserve communities of interest, follow natural boundaries when practical, and cannot dilute votes. Courts judge polarized voting using election results and may not treat past wins by protected‑class candidates as conclusive. Different minority groups can join together and sue as a coalition when their voting preferences are polarized.

Attorney fee rules in voting cases

If you win a voting‑rights case, the court can order payment of your attorneys’ fees, expert fees, and other costs, including pre‑filing work. You count as a prevailing plaintiff if your case changes the government’s behavior, even without a judgment. If a defendant wins, they may recover fees or costs under state law.

Notice, talks, and public input required

Before suing, a voter, group, or tribe must send a notice and the government must post it publicly with contact info, the claim, the protected class, and the requested fix. The government must negotiate in good faith with the sender(s); if there are multiple notices, it must work with all of them. If at least 5% or 500 residents (whichever is fewer) have limited English, it must give written and spoken notices in those languages, run radio or TV PSAs, and hold a public hearing at least one week before adoption. If it adopts a fix using a notice, it must ask a court to acknowledge compliance and share all political, census, and demographic data used; after 90 days without a compliant fix, a lawsuit may be filed. An approved fix blocks new suits for four years unless changed, and the locality must post the case result and its legal costs within 30 days.

Who is covered and funding deadline

Cities and towns under 1,000 people and school districts with fewer than 250 K–12 students are exempt from key parts of this law. The act repeals an older statute on methods of election and equal opportunity. The entire act is void unless it is funded in the state budget by June 30, 2026.

Faster cases and emergency election orders

Courts must give emergency relief for upcoming elections if you are more likely than not to win and a fix is workable, and you do not need a bond. Courts must set trial within one year of filing. Each election creates a new chance to bring a claim. Your ballot choices stay secret in court.

Census data and redistricting deadlines

The state commission must send local census data to each jurisdiction within 45 days of receiving it. Certain local bodies must finish a redistricting plan by November 15 of years ending in 1.

Clear timelines for new election plans

If a fix is adopted from Election Day through January 15, new elections happen at the next general election. If adopted January 16 through the first Monday in November, the new system starts at the following year’s general election. Courts reopen candidate filing for three business days if needed, and all seats stand for election at the next governing‑body election.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    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

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Fosse

    Democratic • House

  • Mia Gregerson

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole Macri

    Democratic • House

  • Sharlett Mena

    Democratic • House

  • Shaun Scott

    Democratic • House

  • Tarra Simmons

    Democratic • House

  • Timm Ormsby

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 145 • No: 94

House vote • 3/11/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 58 • No: 38 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 2/28/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 30 • No: 19

House vote • 2/12/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 57 • No: 37 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/25/2026House

  2. Chapter 215, 2026 Laws.

    3/25/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/25/2026legislature

  4. Speaker signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  6. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 58; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2026House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    3/11/2026House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    2/28/2026House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/28/2026House

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    2/28/2026House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/27/2026House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/25/2026House

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/24/2026House

  15. Minority; do not pass.

    2/24/2026House

  16. SGTE - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    2/24/2026House

  17. First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.

    2/16/2026House

  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 37; absent, 0; excused, 4.

    2/12/2026House

  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/12/2026House

  20. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/12/2026House

  21. 2nd substitute bill substituted.

    2/12/2026House

  22. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/11/2026House

  23. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/4/2026House

  24. Minority; do not pass.

    2/2/2026House

  25. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

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