SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5329
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Government Operations & Elections, February 5, 2007
Title: An act relating to the archiving of mailed political advertising.
Brief Description: Requiring mailed political advertising to be filed with the secretary of state to be archived.
Sponsors: Senator Jacobsen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/01/07, 2/05/07 [DP, DNP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Oemig, Vice Chair; Kline and Pridemore.
Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senator Roach, Ranking Minority Member.
Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)
Background: The state archivist, as head of the division of archives and records management
in the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS), is responsible for managing the archives of the
state of Washington. Public records that are not required in the current operation of the office
where they are made are transferred to the state archives so that the historical records of the state
may be centralized.
All written political advertising must include the sponsor's name and address. Sponsor is defined
as the person paying for the advertising, or if a person is acting as an agent for another, then the
sponsor is the original source of the payment.
Summary of Bill: Within two working days after the date of a political advertising mailing, the sponsor of the advertising must file an example of the advertising with the OSOS for inclusion with the state archives and records. The sponsor is not required to file more than two examples regarding the same candidate or ballot measure in a single election cycle.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Campaign materials have long term historical interest but are not regularly collected. Political advertising shows what issues are important at the time and how they were addressed. Archiving this material will help historians track patterns in politics. Campaign material has value years after the races for which it was created, and should be preserved.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Jacobsen, prime sponsor; Jerry Hanfield, Office of the
Secretary of State.