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BILL · 2009–10 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1286

HB 1286: Candidates for public office

Prohibiting false and defamatory statements about candidates for public office.

Summary

Clarifies that political advertising or electioneering communications that contain a false statement of material fact about a candidate for office must also be made with actual malice and be libelous or defamatory in nature to be a violation of the campaign laws in chapter 42.17 RCW.
Prohibits a candidate from making a defamatory or libelous statement about his or her opponent in the candidate's statement submitted to the Secretary of State for inclusion in the voters' pamphlet.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SHB 1286), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 222, Laws of 2009

IntroducedJan 16, 2009
Out of committeeJan 30, 2009
Passed HouseFeb 23, 2009
Passed SenateApr 17, 2009
GovernorApr 25, 2009
LawApr 25, 2009

Prime sponsor: Mark Miloscia (D-30)
Introduced: January 16, 2009 in the House
Last action: April 25, 2009
Session law: Chapter 222, Laws of 2009
Requested by: Other
Companion bill: SB 5211
Budget: Has a fiscal note
Versions: HB 1286, SHB 1286

AN ACT Relating to false and defamatory statements about candidates for public office;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Mark Miloscia (D-30)

11 co-sponsors (7 Democrats, 4 Republicans)

Sherry Appleton D-23 Mike Armstrong R-12 Senator D-22 Daniel Newhouse R-15 Scott White D-46 Norma Smith R-10 Christine Rolfes D-23 Mary Helen Roberts D-21 Sharon Nelson D-34 Bill Hinkle R-13 Timm Ormsby D-3

Votes

House · Final Passage

Passed February 23, 2009

Version voted on: SHB 1286

92 Yea 2 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	59	1	0	2
Republican	33	1	0	1

How each member voted

Yea (92)

Nay (2)

Bruce Chandler R-15
Jamie Pedersen D-43

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed April 17, 2009

Version voted on: SHB 1286

44 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	29	0	0	2
Republican	15	1	0	2

How each member voted

Yea (44)

Nay (1)

Dan Swecker R-20

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

History

Apr 25, 2009Effective date 7/26/2009. (SHB 1286)
Apr 25, 2009Chapter 222, 2009 Laws. (SHB 1286)
Apr 25, 2009Governor signed. (SHB 1286)
Apr 20, 2009Delivered to Governor. (SHB 1286)
Apr 19, 2009President signed. (SHB 1286)
Apr 18, 2009Speaker signed. (SHB 1286)
Apr 17, 2009Third reading, passed; yeas, 44; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 4. (SHB 1286)
Apr 17, 2009Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1286)
Apr 8, 2009Placed on second reading consent calendar. (SHB 1286)
Mar 18, 2009GO - Majority; do pass. (SHB 1286)
Mar 18, 2009Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1286)
Feb 25, 2009First reading, referred to Government Operations & Elections. (SHB 1286)
Feb 23, 2009Third reading, passed; yeas, 92; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 3. (SHB 1286)
Feb 23, 2009Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1286)
Feb 23, 20091st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 1286)
Feb 23, 20091st substitute bill substituted.
Feb 19, 2009Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 1286)
Feb 19, 2009Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Jan 30, 2009Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1286)
Jan 30, 2009Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Jan 29, 2009SGTA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1286)
Jan 29, 2009SGTA - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Jan 29, 2009SGTA - Executive action taken by committee.
Jan 16, 2009First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Affairs.

HB 1286 in other sessions

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

HB 1286 (2025–26) Control. subst. endangerment · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1286 (2023–24) Reprod. health/employers · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1286 (2021–22) Psychology compact · Enacted · Chapter 5, Laws of 2022
HB 1286 (2019–20) Assault weapons ban · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1286 (2017–18) Vehicle service fees · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1286 (2015–16) Long-term care funding study · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1286 (2013–14) DOT land, sale to tribes · Did not pass · passed House, stalled in Senate
HB 1286 (2011–12) Tax preference review · Did not pass · passed House, stalled in Senate

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