Brief Description: Regarding the ethical use of e-mail for legislative updates.

Sponsors: Senators Pflug, Tom, Roach, Fairley, Jacobsen, Marr, Hobbs, Kilmer, Rockefeller, Kohl-Welles, Delvin, Hewitt, Brown, Swecker, Weinstein, Morton, Kline, Parlette, Pridemore, McDermott, Benton, Brandland and Honeyford.

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: Twelve months prior to a general election continuing through November 30 following the general election, members of the legislature may not mail constituents a letter, newsletter, brochure, or other pieces of literature with two exceptions: 1) two newsletters; and 2) individual letters. With each mailing, the newsletter contents must be identical and be mailed at established times; the two newsletters may be different from each other. The legislator may mail an individual letter when: responding to a constituent who has contacted the legislator regarding a subject that the letter addresses; an individual constituent holds a government office with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the letter; and an individual constituent has received an award or honor of extraordinary distinction. The prohibition on mailing includes electronic mail.

A person who resides outside of the legislative district represented by the legislator is not a constituent.

Summary: Legislators may provide constituents with electronic mail updates on legislative matters throughout the legislative session up until 30 days from the conclusion of the legislative session. Legislative updates may be provided when constituents indicate they want to receive updates.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   1
House      93   0

Effective: June 12, 2008