BySenators Lovick, Torres, Billig, Boehnke, Cleveland, Conway, Dhingra, Frame, Holy, Hunt, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Muzzall, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Rivers, Saldaña, Shewmake, Stanford, Wagoner, Warnick, Wellman, C. Wilson, and J. Wilson; by request of Lieutenant Governor

Prefiled 01/05/24.Read first time 01/08/24.Referred to Committee on State Government & Elections.

WHEREAS, There are increasing concerns about the state of civic health in America and Washington state; and

WHEREAS, A recent public opinion survey in Washington state revealed that 89% of citizens agree or strongly agree that they are "worried about the future of our democracy"; and

WHEREAS, The same survey also revealed that nearly one in four Washingtonians have "stopped talking to a friend or relative because of politics"; and

WHEREAS, Additional research underscores a decline in respectful discourse in the public square and a material decline in confidence in public institutions; and

WHEREAS, In response to this crisis there has been a surge in local and national organizations designed to improve civic health; and

WHEREAS, One of these organizations is the Project for Civic Health, a partnership of the Office of Lieutenant Governor, the University of Washington's Evans School, the Ruckelshaus Center, and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation; and

WHEREAS, The Project for Civic Health has worked for the last year to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of the problem by conducting focus groups and holding a "summit" involving nearly 200 diverse Washington citizens to develop recommendations on a path forward; and

WHEREAS, Among the many ideas generated by the Project for Civic Health was the creation of a Joint Committee on Civic Health of the Washington State Legislature, the purpose of which would be to build upon the Project's work to date to strengthen our democratic republic;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on Civic Health be established to build upon the work of the Project for Civic Health; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee consist of 13 members: The Lieutenant Governor; three members of the majority party of the Senate and three members of the minority party of the Senate, to be selected by the President of the Senate; and three members of the majority party of the House of Representatives and three members of the minority party of the House of Representatives, to be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Lieutenant Governor shall be chair of the committee and one member of the majority party and one member from the minority party from opposite chambers shall serve as Vice Chairs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall operate in full accordance with the Joint Rules; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, All expenses and hiring of additional staff shall be subject to the approval of the House of Representatives Executive Rules Committee and the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee will issue its preliminary recommendations and report to the legislature prior to the 2025 regular session and its final recommendations and report prior to 2026 regular session at which time the committee shall cease to exist.