Improving meaningful access to elections by increasing language assistance.

 H-1276.1

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1381

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By House State Government & Tribal Relations (originally sponsored by Representatives Shavers, Santos, Pollet, Springer, Wylie, and Ramel)

READ FIRST TIME 02/12/25.

AN ACT Relating to improving meaningful access to elections by increasing language assistance; adding a new section to chapter 29A.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 29A.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The county auditor of a covered county described under subsection (2) of this section shall provide registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in the language of covered language minority groups in that county as designated by the secretary of state under subsection (3) of this section, as well as in English.