Bill > HB2435

This bill establishes a new Legislative Office on Indian Affairs to provide educational and informational resources to state legislators and their professional staff, aiming to strengthen the government-to-government relationship between the state and tribes, building on past agreements like the 1999 New Millennium Agreement and the 1989 Centennial Accord. This new office will complement, not replace, the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, and while it won't act as a direct liaison, it will communicate with intertribal organizations to stay informed on relevant issues. The office will be led by a director appointed by the Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk of the House, and it will be responsible for providing annual mandatory training for professional legislative staff on topics such as cultural awareness, tribal sovereignty, and legal issues impacting tribal relations, with legislative members and other staff encouraged to attend. The bill also amends existing laws to include the Legislative Office on Indian Affairs within definitions of legislative agencies and clarifies its status for labor relations purposes.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2435&Year=2025&Initiative=false