HB 1116 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Recognizing election day.

HB 1116 designates the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as "Election Day" for symbolic recognition in Washington State. The bill adds this date to the list of recognized observances under state law (RCW 1.16.050), alongside days like Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It does not create a paid holiday or change voting procedures - it is purely a symbolic gesture to honor elections. The recognition applies to state government actions and communications, not to voting rights or election administration. This bill is procedural and non-binding, focusing on awareness rather than policy change.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from H-0144.1 to H-1216.1 and its sponsorship was updated to reflect it is now managed by the House Appropriations committee. The primary substantive change removes the requirement for the Secretary of State to create specific programming and materials for Election Day recognition, leaving the initiative entirely to other state and local entities.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the Secretary of State's duties was narrowed by removing a specific mandate to create educational materials.

TIMELINE

The bill was renumbered from H-0144.1 to H-1216.1 and updated to reflect its referral to the House Appropriations committee.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the Secretary of State to create and distribute Election Day programming and materials was removed, leaving the responsibility for educational initiatives solely to other organizations.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.

lower

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

SGOV - Majority; do pass.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 8:00 AM.

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 17 co-sponsors