House Bill Addresses Content and Clarity of Voters’ Pamphlets

The Senate State Government & Elections Committee heard public testimony on Engrossed House Bill 1453, concerning the content and clarity of voters’ pamphlets. 

HB 1453 – 2021-22 Concerning Voters’ Pamphlets

Committee Materials

Engrossed Senate Bill Report (Orig.)
Engrossed House Bill Report
Engrossed Senate Bill Report

The bill analysis and bill report are prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Adds content-based restrictions to candidate statements and arguments for and against ballot measures in voters’ pamphlets.
• Requires that people appointed by the legislative authority of a
  jurisdiction to write arguments for and against ballot measures in local voters’ pamphlets reside within the jurisdictional boundaries.
• Increases the maximum fine for publishing or distributing campaign
  material deceptively similar to a voters’ pamphlet.

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  House Brief Summary of Bill

• Adds content-based restrictions to candidate statements and arguments for and against ballot measures in statewide and local voters’ pamphlets.
• Requires that people appointed by the legislative authority of a
  jurisdiction to write arguments for and against ballot measures in local voters’ pamphlets reside within the jurisdictional boundaries.
• Increases the maximum fine for publishing or distributing campaign
  material that is deceptively similar to a voters’ pamphlet to $5 per copy or $10,000, whichever is greater.
• Makes minor language and administrative changes to sections governing voters’ pamphlets

House of Representative Roll Call 

January 26, 2022 passed; yeas, 70; nays, 27; absent, 0; excused, 1

Voting Yea: Representatives Barkis, Bateman, Berg, Bergquist, Berry, Bronoske, Caldier, Callan, Chapman, Chopp, Cody, Davis, Dolan, Donaghy, Duerr, Entenman, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Gilday, Goehner, Goodman, Gregerson, Griffey, Hackney, Hansen, Harris-Talley, Johnson, J., Kirby, Kloba, Leavitt, Lekanoff, MacEwen, Macri, McEntire, Morgan, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Paul, Peterson, Pollet, Ramel, Ramos, Riccelli, Robertson, Rule, Ryu, Santos, Schmick, Sells, Senn, Shewmake, Simmons, Slatter, Springer, Steele, Stokesbary, Stonier, Sullivan, Taylor, Thai, Tharinger, Valdez, Volz, Walen, Walsh, Wicks, Wylie, Jinkins

Voting Nay: Representatives Abbarno, Boehnke, Chambers, Chandler, Chase, Corry, Dent, Dufault, Dye, Eslick, Graham, Harris, Jacobsen, Klicker, Klippert, Kraft, Kretz, Maycumber, McCaslin, Mosbrucker, Orcutt, Rude, Sutherland, Vick, Wilcox, Ybarra, Young

Absent:

Excused: Representative Hoff
Auburn representatives in bold

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