State senators took their first recorded floor votes of the session last week, including final passage of a bill that modifies the law enforcement initiative approved by state voters last November, and a proposal to set an earlier date for the state’s presidential primary, moving it from May to March.
House Bill 1064, which passed the House unanimously the previous week, makes changes to Initiative 940 relating to de-escalation training for police, investigations of deadly force incidents, and rendering of first aid. It also requires the state to reimburse a peace officer for reasonable defense costs when the officer is found not guilty or charges are dismissed.
The Senate passed HB 1064 with a 47-0 vote. Of the 49 senators, one was excused, and the 40th District seat left vacant by Sen. Kevin Ranker’s resignation has not yet been filled. The bill was delivered to the governor and is awaiting his signature. This is the first measure to clear the Legislature in this year’s scheduled 105-day regular session, now in its 19th day.
Senate Bill 5273 would move up Washington state’s presidential primary election date from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in March, thus joining other West coast states in a “Super Tuesday” election.
This change, according to Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman — who has advocated for it for years— would make Washington voter participation in the presidential process much more meaningful.
Washington has both a presidential primary and a caucus system. In 2016, Republicans used the primary to allocate delegates, but the votes were cast too late to count on the national level. State Democrats ignored primary voters altogether, picking delegates for its national convention earlier in the year through a party-based caucus system. Historically, the number of caucus voters is a small fraction of those who vote in the state primary.
Under SB 5273, each party would decide which candidates’ names are placed on the ballot, and voters, as they do now, would pick their party affiliation when voting in the presidential primary. A floor amendment by Sen. Hans Zeiger, R-Puyallup, to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in the primary was defeated on a 29-18 roll call vote. The bill then passed, without the amendment, by 29-18, essentially the reverse of the vote on the amendment.
The bill has now been sent to the House for further consideration.
The Senate also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 4401, adopted earlier by the House, setting forth a code of ethical conduct for legislators, staff, lobbyists, and others in the state capital community.
In other news, Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser, suffered a heart attack and underwent surgery earlier this week. He is resting comfortably in a Richland area hospital. House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox said Rep. Jenkin would return to the Legislature before the end of session.
His position as deputy Republican Whip and his committee assignments will be temporarily covered by other GOP legislators. Until Rep. Jenkins returns, the House will operate with 97 members instead of 98.
Keep up with the news in Olympia by visiting washington votes.org.
How did our lawmakers vote?
• House Bill 1064, Concerning law enforcement
Passed the Senate on Jan. 30, by a vote of 47-0 (one member excused)
HB 1064 would modify the provisions of Initiative 940 relating to de-escalation training for police, investigations of deadly force incidents, and rendering of first aid. It would also require the state to reimburse a peace officer for reasonable defense costs when the officer is found not guilty or charges are dismissed in certain circumstances.
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim
Yes
• Senate Bill 5273, Concerning the presidential primary
Passed the Senate on Jan. 30 by a vote of 47-0 (one member excused.
SB 5273 would move up Washington’s presidential primary election date from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in March, which in coordination with other states would create a so-called “Super Tuesday” on the West Coast.
Sen. Van De Wege Yes
• Senate Bill 5273 — Amendment by Sen. Zeiger to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in the primary
Failed in the Senate on Jan. 30 by a vote of 29-18 (one member excused)
Under current law, and under SB 5273, voters must declare a party affiliation on the presidential primary ballot and can only vote for candidates of that party. The amendment would have allowed voters to choose not to declare a party affiliation and vote for any candidate of their choice.
Sen. Van De Wege No.
