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HB1710 • 2026
Concerning compliance with the Washington voting rights act of 2018.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Voting rights act compliance
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
0 • State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections
Plain English: 1710-S3.E AMS SGTE S5518.1 E3SHB 1710 - S COMM AMD By Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections ADOPTED 03/04/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
102 • Mena
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH MENA OMLI 216 1 - Official Print 1710-S2 AMH MENA OMLI 216 2SHB 1710 - H AMD 102 By Representative Mena NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 1, line 18, after "law;" insert "or" On page 1, beginning on line 19, strike all of subsections (b) and (c) Renumber the remaining subsection consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.
1658 • Mena
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH MENA SHIP 191 1 - Official Print By Representative Mena EFFECT: Removes the specification that a jurisdiction is designated to be a covered jurisdiction by the Attorney General by rule.
1659 • Mena
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH MENA OMLI 372 1 - Official Print By Representative Mena EFFECT: Makes a technical change to correct an internal reference.
1660 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH DUFA SHIP 190 1 - Official Print By Representative Dufault EFFECT: Makes any provisions of the bill or Chapter 29A.92 RCW that discriminate on the basis of race as prohibited by constitutional jurisprudence void and unenforceable.
1676 • Walsh
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH WALJ OMLI 330 1 - Official Print By Representative Walsh EFFECT: Qualifies as a covered practice any change within a 12- month period to the boundaries of the covered jurisdiction that reduces, by more than five percentage points, the proportion of the jurisdiction's entire population, rather than only the citizen voting-age population, who are members of any protected class that is the basis for the political subdivision's designation as a covered jurisdiction.
1677 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH DUFA OMLI 332 1 - Official Print By Representative Dufault EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered practice" the method of election or district plans where, following each decennial census, the covered jurisdiction maintains an at-large method of election or the covered jurisdiction which implemented a district- based election system makes no revisions to its districting plans.
1678 • Walsh
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH WALJ OMLI 335 1 - Official Print By Representative Walsh EFFECT: Removes the requirement for covered jurisdictions to first obtain a certification of no objection from the Attorney General prior to implementing or adopting a covered practice, and instead authorizes the Attorney General to institute an action in superior court to enjoin a covered jurisdiction from implementing the covered practice.
1679 • Walsh
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH WALJ OMLI 340 1 - Official Print By Representative Walsh EFFECT: Removes the causes of action available to an aggrieved party to appeal the Attorney General's issuance of a certification of no objection or to compel a covered jurisdiction to obtain a certificate of no objection.
1680 • Waters
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH WATE OMLI 343 1 - Official Print By Representative Waters EFFECT: Extends the "safe harbor" period during which an action against a covered jurisdiction based on the same covered practice may not be brought, from four years to 12 years.
1681 • Corry
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH CORR OMLI 361 1 - Official Print By Representative Corry EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered jurisdiction" political subdivisions which, within the previous 25 years, have been subject to a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability based on a violation of the state or federal Voting Rights Act, or other voting-related violation of the federal or state constitution involving discrimination against members of a protected class.
1682 • Penner
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH PENN OMLI 363 1 - Official Print By Representative Penner EFFECT: Removes as a "covered practice" any change to the covered jurisdiction's boundaries of election districts or wards.
1683 • Walsh
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH WALJ OMLI 368 1 - Official Print By Representative Walsh EFFECT: Removes the prohibition on any party that is not the covered jurisdiction which is the subject of an objection issued by the Attorney General from appealing the objection or intervening in an action brought by the covered jurisdiction.
1684 • Valdez
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH VALM OMLI 369 1 - Official Print By Representative Valdez EFFECT: Removes the requirement for the Attorney General to designate political subdivisions that qualify as a covered jurisdiction.
1685 • Manjarrez
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH MANJ OMLI 371 1 - Official Print By Representative Manjarrez EFFECT: Requires the state to reimburse a covered jurisdiction for costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred if the covered jurisdiction is the prevailing party in an action brought against it by the Attorney General to enjoin the covered jurisdiction from implementing a covered practice, or in an action brought by the covered jurisdiction to appeal the Attorney General's objection to a covered practice that is submitted for preapproval.
1686 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH DUFA SHIP 187 1 - Official Print By Representative Dufault EFFECT: Limits the circumstances for which the Attorney General issues a certification of no objection for a proposed covered practice to exclude when the proposed covered practice does not diminish the ability of the protected class or classes to participate in the political process or to elect their preferred candidate to office.
1687 • Penner
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH PENN SHIP 194 1 - Official Print By Representative Penner EFFECT: Makes a political subdivision a covered jurisdiction subject to the preclearance requirements under the bill if that political subdivision was subject to a court order, government enforcement action, court-approved consent decree, or a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability based on a voting-related violation of law or a finding that the political subdivision engaged in a pattern, policy, or practice of discrimination against members of a protected class in violation of the law, within the previous 10 years, rather than within the previous 25 years.
1697 • Penner
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S3 AMH PENN OMLI 364 1 - Official Print By Representative Penner EFFECT: Removes as a "covered practice" any change that restricts the ability of any person to provide interpreter services to voters in any language other than English or which limits or impairs the creation or distribution of voting materials in any language other than English.
584 • Jacobsen
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH JACO OMLI 249 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Makes a decrease, rather than a change, in the number, location, or hours of any election day or early voting site or ballot drop boxes, a covered practice.
589 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 238 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered practice" the method of election or district plans where, following each decennial census, the covered jurisdiction maintains an at-large method of election or the covered jurisdiction which implements a district- based election system makes no revisions to its districting plans.
590 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 239 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered practice" the method of election or district plans where, following each decennial census, the covered jurisdiction which implements a district-based election system makes no revisions to its districting plans.
591 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 240 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered practice" a change in the number of any election day or early voting sites or ballot drop boxes.
592 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 241 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of a "covered practice" a change that may have the effect of denying, abridging, or diluting the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, as determined by the Office of the Attorney General by rule.
593 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 242 1 - Official Print 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 242 2SHB 1710 - H AMD 593 By Representative Dufault NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 2, line 23, after "(2)" strike "(a)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 24, strike "(i)" and insert "(a)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 29, strike "(ii)" and insert "(b)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 35, strike "(iii)" and insert "(c)" On page 2, at the beginning of line 37, strike "(iv)" and insert "(d)" On page 3, at the beginning of line 1, strike "(v)" and insert "(e)" On page 3, at the beginning of line 3, strike "(vi)" and insert "(f)" On page 3, at the beginning of line 7, strike "(vii)" and insert "(g)" On page 3, at the beginning of line 9, strike "(viii)" and insert "(h)" On page 3, beginning on line 13, strike all of subsection (b) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 242 2 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the provision specifying that a covered practice may include any qualifying changes as a result of a ballot initiative approved by voters.
594 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 244 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes Thurston County Superior Court as a venue for filing an action by the Attorney General to enjoin a covered jurisdiction from implementing a covered practice and to compel the jurisdiction to first obtain preclearance for the covered practice.
595 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 245 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes language stating that an action by the Attorney General to compel a covered jurisdiction to seek a certification of no objection or an action appealing the Attorney General's objection to a covered practice does not bar or limit other actions that may be brought regarding the covered practice.
596 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 246 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes provisions authorizing an aggrieved party to bring an action alleging that the Attorney General has issued a certification of no objection in violation of the act, or to compel a covered jurisdiction to obtain preclearance prior to adopting or implementing a proposed covered practice.
597 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA SHIP 094 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the specification that the four year prohibition on an action against a political subdivision after the Attorney General issues a certificate of no objection or the certificate of no objection is upheld does not preclude an appeal of the certificate of no objection or an action by the Attorney General to enjoin enforcement of a covered practice.
598 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA SHIP 095 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Extends the period of the prohibition on an action against a political subdivision based on the same covered practice from four to 12 years.
599 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA SHIP 096 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the requirement that the Office of the Attorney General maintain a publicly accessible website containing a list of covered jurisdictions, all submissions for a certificate of no objection and actions filed in superior court for a declaratory judgment, and the status of all submissions for a certificate and actions filed in superior court.
600 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA SHIP 097 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the requirement that the Secretary of State designate by rule which political subdivisions qualify as covered jurisdictions.
601 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA SHIP 098 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the prohibition on compelling an organization that is an aggrieved person filing an action to disclose the identity of any specific member.
602 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 227 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Makes a political subdivision a covered jurisdiction subject to the preclearance requirements under the act if that political subdivision was subject to a court order, government enforcement action, court-approved consent decree, or a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability based on a voting-related violation of law or a finding that the political subdivision engaged in a pattern, policy, or practice of discrimination against members of a protected class in violation of the law, within the previous five years, rather than within the previous 25 years.
603 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 228 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Makes a political subdivision a covered jurisdiction subject to the preclearance requirements under the act if that political subdivision was subject to a court order, government enforcement action, court-approved consent decree, or a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability based on a voting-related violation of law or a finding that the political subdivision engaged in a pattern, policy, or practice of discrimination against members of a protected class in violation of the law, within the previous 10 years, rather than within the previous 25 years.
604 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 229 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered jurisdiction" political subdivisions which, within the previous 25 years, have been subject to a government enforcement action, court-approved consent decree, or a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability based on a voting-related violation of law or a finding that the political subdivision engaged in a pattern, policy, or practice of discrimination against members of a protected class.
605 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 230 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered jurisdiction" political subdivisions which, within the previous 25 years, have been subject to a court order, government enforcement action, court- approved consent decree, or a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability, based on a violation of the federal Voting Rights Act, the 15th Amendment to the United States (U.S.) Constitution, or any voting-related violation of the Washington Constitution or the 14th Amendment to the U.S.
606 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 231 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered jurisdiction" political subdivisions which, within the previous 25 years, have been subject to a settlement in which the political subdivision conceded liability based upon a concession that the political subdivision engaged in a pattern, policy, or practice of discrimination against members of a protected class in violation of the law.
607 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 232 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Makes a political subdivision a covered jurisdiction subject to the preclearance requirements under the act if that political subdivision was found to have enacted or implemented a covered policy without first obtaining preclearance while designated as a covered jurisdiction, within the previous five years, rather than within the previous 25 years.
608 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 233 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Makes a political subdivision a covered jurisdiction subject to the preclearance requirements under the act if that political subdivision was found to have enacted or implemented a covered policy without first obtaining preclearance while designated as a covered jurisdiction, within the previous 10 years, rather than within the previous 25 years.
609 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 234 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Qualifies as a covered practice any change within a 12- month period to the boundaries of the covered jurisdiction that reduces the proportion of the jurisdiction's citizen voting age population composed of members of any protected class that is the basis for the political subdivision's designation as a covered jurisdiction, by more than 10 percentage points, rather than by more than five percentage points.
610 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 235 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Qualifies as a covered practice any change within a 12-month period to the boundaries of the covered jurisdiction that reduces by more than five percentage points the proportion of the jurisdiction's entire population, rather than only the citizen voting age population, who are members of any protected class that is the basis for the political subdivision's designation as a covered jurisdiction.
611 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 236 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes from the definition of "covered practice" any change to the covered jurisdiction's plan of government.
613 • Penner
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH PENN OMLI 247 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Adds to the definition of a covered practice the adoption of a county ordinance, municipal law, or policy authorizing publicly funded contributions to political campaigns.
614 • Penner
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH PENN OMLI 248 1 - Official Print 1710-S2 AMH PENN OMLI 248 2SHB 1710 - H AMD 614 By Representative Penner NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 On page 1, beginning on line 5, strike all of subsection (1) Renumber the remaining subsections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.
633 • Dufault
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH DUFA OMLI 243 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Removes the requirement for covered jurisdictions to first obtain a certification of no objection to a covered practice from the Attorney General prior to implementing or adopting the covered practice, and instead authorizes the Attorney General to institute an action in superior court to enjoin a covered jurisdiction from implementing the covered practice.
89 • Mena
Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1710-S2 AMH MENA OMLI 215 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Narrows the definition of "covered jurisdiction" by removing from the definition political subdivisions which meet certain population thresholds of voting age citizens who are members of a protected class, and where at any point within the previous 10 years: (1) the percentage of registered voting age citizens who are members of the protected class is at least 10 percentage points lower than the percentage of all citizens of the political subdivision who are registered voters; (2) the percentage of the citizen voting age population of the protected class that participated in any general election for any office of the political subdivision is at least 10 percentage points lower than the percentage of all citizens of voting age that participated in that election; or (3) the poverty rate of the protected class meeting the population threshold exceeds the poverty rate of the whole population of the political subdivision by at least 10 percentage points.
3rd substitute bill substituted.
Voting rights act compliance
AN ACT Relating to compliance with the Washington voting rights 1 act of 2018; and adding a new chapter to Title 29A RCW.2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) "Covered jurisdiction" means a 4 jurisdiction which has been designated by the office of the secretary 5 of state by rule in accordance with section 4 of this act to be:6 (a) A political subdivision which, within the previous 25 years, 7 has become subject to a court order, government enforcement action, 8 court-approved consent decree, or a settlement in which the political 9 subdivision conceded liability, based upon: 10 (i) A violation of chapter 29A.92 RCW, the federal voting rights 11 act, the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, or any 12 voting-related violation of the 14th amendment to the United States 13 Constitution or of the Washington Constitution; or14 (ii) A finding or concession that the political subdivision 15 engaged in a pattern, policy, or practice of discrimination against 16 members of a protected class in violation of state or federal law;17 (b) A political subdivision which contains at least 6,000 18 citizens of voting age of a protected class or whose members comprise 19 at least 15 percent of the citizen voting population of the political 20 subdivision and where, at any point within the previous 10 years, the 21 H-0885.1 HOUSE BILL 1710 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Representatives Mena, Salahuddin, Gregerson, Berg, Reeves, Cortes, Stonier, Timmons, Thomas, Reed, Hill, Berry, Simmons, Parshley, Farivar, Zahn, Fosse, Peterson, Goodman, Street, Doglio, Scott, Pollet, Nance, Ormsby, Ryu, Macri, Ramel, and Obras Read first time 01/29/25. Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations. p. 1 HB 1710 percentage of the citizen voting age population of the protected 1 class that is registered to vote is at least 10 percentage points 2 lower than the percentage of all citizens of voting age that are 3 registered to vote in the political subdivision; or where, at any 4 point during the previous 10 years, the percentage of the citizen 5 voting age population of the protected class within the political 6 subdivision that participated in any general election for any office 7 of the political subdivision is at least 10 percentage points lower 8 than the percentage of all citizens of voting age that participated 9 in the election; 10 (c) A political subdivision where, for members of a protected 11 class consisting of at least 6,000 citizens of voting age or whose 12 members comprise at least 15 percent of the citizen voting age 13 population of the political subdivision, at any point during the 14 previous 10 years, the combined misdemeanor and felony arrest rate of 15 that protected class is more than two times that of the whole 16 population of the political subdivision; 17 (d) A political subdivision where, for members of a protected 18 class consisting of at least 6,000 citizens of voting age or whose 19 members comprise at least 15 percent of the citizen voting age 20 population of the political subdivision, at any point during the 21 previous 10 years, the poverty rate of that protected class exceeds 22 the poverty rate of the whole population of the political subdivision 23 by at least 10 percentage points; or 24 (e) Any political subdivision that, during the previous 25 years, 25 was found to have enacted or implemented a covered policy without 26 obtaining preclearance for such covered policy while designated as a 27 covered jurisdiction pursuant to this section. 28 (2)(a) "Covered practice" means: 29 (i) Any change to the method of election of members of a 30 governing body, including the removal of seats, the addition of seats 31 elected at large, or the conversion of one or more seats elected from 32 a single-member district to one or more at-large seats or seats from 33 a multimember district; 34 (ii) Any change, or series of changes within a 12-month period, 35 to the boundaries of the covered jurisdiction that reduces by more 36 than five percentage points the proportion of the jurisdiction's 37 citizen voting age population that is composed of members of any 38 protected class that is a basis for the political subdivision's 39 designation as a covered jurisdiction; 40 p. 2 HB 1710 (iii) Any change to the boundaries of election districts or wards 1 in the covered jurisdiction; 2 (iv) Any change that restricts the ability of any person to 3 provide interpreter services to voters in any language other than 4 English or which limits or impairs the creation or distribution of 5 voting materials in any language other than English;6 (v) Any change to the covered jurisdiction's plan of government, 7 including a change to or in the framing of a jurisdiction's charter;8 (vi) The method of election or district plans if, following each 9 decennial census, a covered jurisdiction maintains an at-large method 10 of election or a covered jurisdiction that implements a district-11 based election system makes no revisions to its districting plans;12 (vii) The annexation or deannexation of a political subdivision 13 or the consolidation or division of political subdivisions;14 (viii) A change in the number, location, or hours of any election 15 day or early voting site or ballot drop boxes; or 16 (ix) A change that may have the effect of denying, abridging, or 17 diluting the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership 18 in a language minority group, as determined by the office of the 19 attorney general by rule. 20 (b) "Covered practice" is not limited to actions taken 21 independently by the governing body of a political subdivision, but 22 also includes any changes as a result of ballot initiatives approved 23 by voters. 24 (3) "Government enforcement action" includes a denial of 25 administrative or judicial preclearance by the state or federal 26 government, a final judgment or adjudication, or a similar formal 27 action including but not limited to orders or final determinations 28 from administrative adjudications. 29 (4) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as defined in 30 RCW 29A.92.010. 31 (5) "Protected class" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 32 29A.92.010. 33 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)(a) Prior to adopting or administering 34 a covered practice as defined in section 1 of this act, the governing 35 body of a covered jurisdiction shall:36 (i) Institute an action in Thurston county superior court or, if 37 the jurisdiction is located within Thurston county, institute an 38 action in King county superior court, for a declaratory judgment 39 p. 3 HB 1710 certifying that the covered practice meets the standard in (b) of 1 this subsection; or 2 (ii) Submit such covered practice to the attorney general for 3 issuance of a certification of no objection to the proposed covered 4 practice. 5 (b) The superior court shall issue the declaratory judgment or, 6 if applicable, the attorney general shall issue a certification of no 7 objection, only if the proposed covered practice: 8 (i) Will not diminish the ability of the protected class or 9 classes that are the basis for the political subdivision's 10 designation as a covered jurisdiction to participate in the political 11 process or to elect their preferred candidates to office; and12 (ii) Does not violate chapter 29A.92 RCW, the federal voting 13 rights act, 52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq., or other provisions of 14 state or federal law. 15 (2) No covered practice is effective until the superior court has 16 entered a declaratory judgment certifying that the covered practice 17 meets the standard in subsection (1)(b) of this section or the 18 attorney general has issued a certification of no objection.19 (3)(a) A certification of no objection may be deemed to have been 20 issued if: 21 (i) After submitting a covered policy for a certification with 22 the attorney general, the attorney general does not issue an 23 objection within 60 days of the governing body's submission of the 24 covered policy, except when the timeline is extended pursuant to (b) 25 of this subsection; or 26 (ii) The attorney general affirmatively indicates that no such 27 objection will be made, upon a showing of good cause to facilitate an 28 expedited approval within 60 days of the governing body's submission.29 (b) The attorney general may, no more than twice, extend the 30 number of days to issue an objection under (a) of this subsection by 31 90 days for each extension. 32 (c) If the attorney general affirmatively indicates that no 33 objection will be made within the 60-day period following the receipt 34 of the governing body's submission, the attorney general may reserve 35 the right to reexamine the submission if the attorney general 36 discovers additional information during the remainder of the 60-day 37 period that would otherwise require an objection in accordance with 38 this section. Upon reexamination, the attorney general may extend the 39 p. 4 HB 1710 number of days to issue an objection in accordance with (b) of this 1 subsection. 2 (d) An affirmative indication by the attorney general that no 3 objection will be made, the attorney general's failure to object, or 4 a declaratory judgment entered by the superior court certifying that 5 the covered practice meets the standard in subsection (1)(b) of this 6 section does not bar a subsequent action to enjoin enforcement of the 7 covered practice. 8 (4) The attorney general may institute an action in superior 9 court of the county in which the relevant political subdivision is 10 located or in the Thurston county superior court to enjoin a covered 11 jurisdiction from implementing a covered practice and to compel the 12 governing body of the covered jurisdiction to comply with the 13 requirements under subsection (1) of this section.14 (5) If the attorney general objects to a covered practice 15 submitted by a covered jurisdiction, the covered jurisdiction may 16 appeal the objection in superior court of the county in which the 17 relevant political subdivision is located or in the Thurston county 18 superior court. No other parties may file an action to appeal an 19 objection by the attorney general to a covered practice nor intervene 20 in any such action brought by the covered jurisdiction. Due to the 21 frequency and urgency of elections, actions brought pursuant to this 22 section shall be subject to expedited proceedings.23 (6) In any action under this section, the court has discretion to 24 stay the implementation of the covered practice until it issues its 25 final order or determination. An action under this subdivision does 26 not preclude, bar, or limit any other actions that may be brought 27 regarding the covered policy in any way, including actions brought 28 under other sections of chapter 29A.92 RCW. 29 NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) An action may be filed by any 30 aggrieved party in any of the following circumstances:31 (a) The attorney general has issued a certification of no 32 objection to a covered policy in violation of section 2 of this act;33 (b) The secretary of state has identified a list of covered 34 jurisdictions that is inconsistent with the criteria under section 1 35 of this act, including the failure to designate a covered 36 jurisdiction that meets the criteria under section 1 of this act; or37 (c) To compel the governing body of the covered jurisdiction to 38 institute an action for a declaratory judgment or to seek issuance of 39 p. 5 HB 1710 a certification of no objection from the attorney general prior to 1 adopting or implementing the covered practice. 2 (2) An action to appeal the attorney general's certificate of no 3 objection must be filed in superior court of the county in which the 4 relevant political subdivision is located or in the Thurston county 5 superior court. 6 (3) In any claim under this section, the court has discretion to 7 stay the implementation of the covered practice until it issues its 8 final order or determination. A claim under this subdivision does not 9 preclude, bar, or limit any other claims that may be brought 10 regarding the covered policy in any way, including claims brought 11 under other sections of chapter 29A.92 RCW. Review of the attorney 12 general's determination under subsection (1)(a) of this section is de 13 novo. 14 (4) For purposes of this section, an "aggrieved person" may 15 include any organization whose: 16 (a) Membership includes individuals aggrieved by a violation of 17 this section; or 18 (b) Mission would be frustrated by a violation of this section, 19 including but not limited to an entity who would expend or divert 20 resources to fulfill its mission as a result of such violation.21 (5) An organization described under subsection (4) of this 22 section may not be compelled to disclose the identity of any specific 23 member to pursue a claim on behalf of its members.24 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) No later than July 1st of each even-25 numbered year, the secretary of state shall by rule and in 26 consultation with the attorney general, the office of financial 27 management, and other relevant agencies, designate those political 28 subdivisions which qualify as covered jurisdictions pursuant to 29 section 1 of this act based on the best available data from the 30 United States census bureau, the most recent American community 31 survey, or other data of comparable quality collected by a federal, 32 state, or local agency. The secretary of state shall provide written 33 notice to the covered jurisdiction of the designation. A 34 determination made pursuant to this subsection is effective on the 35 date that the written notice is sent.36 (2) The office of the attorney general shall maintain a publicly 37 accessible website containing the following information:38 p. 6 HB 1710 (a) A list of all covered jurisdictions, to be updated 1 biannually; 2 (b) All submissions for a certificate of no objection and actions 3 filed in superior court for a declaratory judgment certifying that 4 the covered practice meets the standard in section 2 of this act, 5 including any supporting documents submitted by the covered entity; 6 and 7 (c) The status and disposition of each submission under (b) of 8 this subsection. 9 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act 10 constitute a new chapter in Title 29A RCW.11 --- END --- p. 7 HB 1710