2020 Regular Session

BySenators Wilson, L., Muzzall, Zeiger, Sheldon, O'Ban, Fortunato, Short, Becker, Braun, Mullet, Schoesler, and Wagoner

Prefiled 12/05/19.Read first time 01/13/20.Referred to Committee on State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections.

AN ACT Relating to prohibiting the use of title-only bills; adding a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the use of title-only bills represents a clear circumvention of the legislative process and must be prohibited. The introduction of empty pieces of legislation as placeholders, with substantive content to be filled in later, does not promote legislative transparency or foster public trust. The legislature finds title-only bills have been used as last-minute vehicles to advance major policy changes with little-to-no notice to the public or even to the legislators elected to vote on them. Whether intentional or not, such tactics disregard the constitutional restrictions meant to ensure adequate public notice and understanding of legislative action.

The legislature therefore intends to prohibit the use of title-only bills.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

The introduction of title-only bills is prohibited. For purposes of this section, a title-only bill is a legislative bill that does not create new statutory language in addition to the title of the bill or lay forth the full changes to any act or sections of law intended by the bill.