Supporting civic engagement for incarcerated and institutionalized individuals in state custody to promote inclusion and rehabilitation.

 H-1092.1

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1147

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By House State Government & Tribal Relations (originally sponsored by Representatives Farivar, Simmons, Ryu, Ramel, Mena, Macri, Doglio, Goodman, Ormsby, and Hill)

READ FIRST TIME 02/04/25.

AN ACT Relating to supporting civic engagement for incarcerated and institutionalized individuals in state custody to promote inclusion and rehabilitation; adding a new chapter to Title 72 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes that people with direct lived experience are experts in their own lives and experience. The passage of the nothing about us without us act solidified our commitment to developing smart and inclusive policy with the leadership of directly impacted populations.

(2) Those who are incarcerated or experiencing institutionalization face extraordinary barriers to civic participation, are most impacted by lawmaking, and benefit greatly by participating in society. Society also benefits tremendously when the treatment or rehabilitation of directly impacted people is accelerated by their inclusion in the civic process.