Bill > HB1710

This bill establishes new requirements for "covered jurisdictions," which are political subdivisions that have previously violated voting rights laws or enacted policies without proper approval. These jurisdictions must now submit any "covered policy"—which includes changes to how governing bodies are elected, boundary adjustments that disproportionately affect protected voting groups, changes to election district boundaries, restrictions on voter assistance or materials in languages other than English, or alterations to their governmental structure—to the Attorney General for a "certification of no objection." The Attorney General will issue this certification if the proposed policy does not diminish the ability of protected classes to participate in the political process or elect their preferred candidates, and does not violate existing voting rights laws. If the Attorney General does not object within 60 days (with possible extensions), the policy is deemed approved, though this does not prevent future legal challenges. The Attorney General can also initiate legal action to stop a covered policy from being implemented. Aggrieved individuals or organizations can file lawsuits if the Attorney General wrongly approves a policy or if a jurisdiction fails to seek approval. The Attorney General will maintain a public list of covered jurisdictions and their submitted policies. Once a policy is approved and upheld by a court, it generally cannot be challenged for four years, provided no changes are made to the approved policy during that time. The bill also mandates that the Attorney General designate covered jurisdictions every two years and requires specific funding by June 30, 2026, for the act to remain in effect.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1710&Year=2025&Initiative=false