WA People
BILL · 1997–98 SESSION

SB 5865: English as official language

Making English the official language of Washington.

Summary

  • The Legislature finds that English is the common language of the people of the United States and the state of Washington. The Legislature intends to preserve, protect, strengthen, and perpetuate the English language and takes all steps necessary to do so.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5865), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee
  1. IntroducedFeb 17, 1997
  2. Out of committeestopped here
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Don Benton (R-17)
Introduced
February 17, 1997 in the Senate
Last action
January 12, 1998

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Don Benton (R-17)

4 co-sponsors (0 Democrats, 4 Republicans)

Joseph Zarelli R-18Ray Schow R-30Pam Roach R-31Harold Hochstatter R-13

Votes

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

History

The Legislature's online data doesn't include step-by-step history for sessions before 2001. Its final status is shown above, and the official bill page may have more.

SB 5865 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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