BILL · 2017–18 SESSION

SB 5039: Electronic legal material

Adopting the uniform electronic legal material act.

Summary

Adopts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, creating a framework for authentication, preservation, and accessibility of legal material in an official electronic record.
Defines the Washington State Constitution, session laws, Revised Code of Washington, certain agency rules, the Washington State Register, and the Washington Administrative Code as "legal material."

From the House Bill Report (SB 5039), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 106, Laws of 2017

AN ACT Relating to the uniform electronic legal material act;

Passed February 28, 2017

Version voted on: SB 5039

49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	25	0	0	0
Republican	24	0	0	0

How each member voted

Passed April 10, 2017

Version voted on: SB 5039

98 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	50	0	0	0
Republican	48	0	0	0

How each member voted

Apr 21, 2017Effective date 1/1/2018.
Apr 21, 2017Chapter 106, 2017 Laws.
Apr 21, 2017Governor signed.
Apr 17, 2017Delivered to Governor.
Apr 14, 2017Speaker signed.
Apr 11, 2017President signed.
Apr 10, 2017Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
Apr 10, 2017Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Apr 7, 2017Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 24, 2017Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Mar 22, 2017JUDI - Majority; do pass.
Mar 2, 2017First reading, referred to Judiciary (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).
Feb 28, 2017Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
Feb 28, 2017Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Feb 7, 2017Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Feb 2, 2017Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Feb 1, 2017LAW - Majority; do pass.
Jan 11, 2017First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

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

SB 5039 (2025–26) DOC WMS employee arbitration · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5039 (2023–24) Wildfires/electric utilities · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5039 (2021–22) Gubernatorial emergencies · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5039 (2019–20) Competency restoration/risk · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5039 (2015–16) Clemency and pardons board · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5039 (2013–14) Basic education/revenues · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 5039 (2011–12) Tobacco cessation treatment · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 5039 (2009–10) Forensic investigations · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor