SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5514
As Passed Senate, January 26, 2022
Title: An act relating to increasing the frequency of county legislative meetings at alternate locations.
Brief Description: Increasing the frequency of county legislative meetings at alternate locations.
Sponsors: Senators Dozier, Mullet, Short and Wilson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Housing & Local Government: 1/11/22, 1/13/22 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 1/26/22, 45-2.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes county legislative bodies to hold regular meetings outside of the county seat up to once per calendar month.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Kuderer, Chair; Das, Vice Chair; Fortunato, Ranking Member; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Member; Cleveland, Lovelett, Salomon, Sefzik, Trudeau, Warnick and Wilson, J.
Staff: Maggie Douglas (786-7279)
Background:

County legislative authorities are responsible for directing the short and long-range policy goals and outcomes for the county government and its constituents.
 
County legislative authorities are required to hold all regular meetings at the county seat.  A regular meeting is defined as a meeting that is held in accordance to a schedule adopted by ordinance, resolution, order, or rule by the county legislative authority.  The legislative authority may, no more than once per calendar quarter, hold a regular meeting at a location outside of the county seat, but within the county if the county legislative authority determines that holding a meeting at an alternate location would be in the interests of supporting greater citizen engagement in local government.
Summary of Bill:

The county legislative authority may increase the frequency of holding regular meetings outside the county seat to no more than once per calendar month.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  By holding a regular meeting at an alternate location within the county at least once per month, county legislative bodies can encourage increased citizen engagement and hear issues relative to that specific area.  This bill is not an effort to move the county seat, but rather increase public participation throughout the county.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Perry Dozier, Prime Sponsor; Jerome Delvin, Benton County.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.