WA People
BILL · 2021–22 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESHB 1329

HB 1329: Public meetings

Concerning public meeting accessibility and participation.

Summary

  • Requires governing bodies to provide an opportunity for public comment at or before every regular meeting at which final action is taken, except in emergency situations, and allows this requirement to be satisfied by accepting oral testimony, or by providing an opportunity for written testimony to be submitted prior to the meeting.
  • Requires governing bodies, upon the request of an individual who will find physical attendance at a meeting difficult, to provide an opportunity for remote oral comment for that individual if doing so feasible and if oral public comment from other members of the public will be accepted at the meeting.
  • Allows a public agency to hold meetings of its governing body remotely, or with limited in-person attendance, after a declared emergency and requires that the public be allowed to listen in, in real time, to such meetings.
  • Requires all public agencies, except for certain special purpose districts, cities, and towns to post agendas online for every regular meeting and for special meetings that are held remotely or with limited in-person attendance during an emergency.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESHB 1329), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 115, Laws of 2022
  1. IntroducedJan 20, 2021
  2. Out of committeeFeb 15, 2021
  3. Passed HouseFeb 26, 2021
  4. Passed SenateMar 3, 2022
  5. GovernorMar 24, 2022
  6. LawMar 24, 2022
Prime sponsor
Emily Wicks (D-38)
Introduced
January 20, 2021 in the House
Last action
March 24, 2022
Session law
Chapter 115, Laws of 2022
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1329, ESHB 1329

AN ACT Relating to public meeting accessibility and participation;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Emily Wicks (D-38)

12 co-sponsors (12 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Gerry Pollet D-46Jamila Taylor D-30Cindy Ryu D-32Sharon Wylie D-49Sharon Shewmake D-42Jessica Bateman D-22John Lovick D-44Jake Fey D-27Melanie Morgan D-29Debra Lekanoff D-40Kirsten Harris-Talley D-37Strom Peterson D-21

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 26, 2021
Version voted on: ESHB 1329
89 Yea 6 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56001
Republican33602
How each member voted

Yea (89)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed January 12, 2022
Version voted on: ESHB 1329
79 Yea 16 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56001
Republican231602
How each member voted

Yea (79)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed March 3, 2022
Version voted on: ESHB 1329
47 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat28001
Republican19001
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed March 7, 2022
Version voted on: ESHB 1329
87 Yea 11 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57000
Republican301100
How each member voted

Yea (87)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/9/2022*. (ESHB 1329)
  2. Chapter 115, 2022 Laws. (ESHB 1329)
  3. Governor signed. (ESHB 1329)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESHB 1329)
  5. President signed. (ESHB 1329)
  6. Speaker signed. (ESHB 1329)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 87; nays, 11; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESHB 1329)
  8. House concurred in Senate amendments. (ESHB 1329)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESHB 1329)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESHB 1329)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (ESHB 1329)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESHB 1329)
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESHB 1329)
  14. SGE - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESHB 1329)
  15. First reading, referred to State Government & Elections. (ESHB 1329)
  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 79; nays, 16; absent, 0; excused, 3. (ESHB 1329)
  17. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on third reading. (ESHB 1329)
  18. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESHB 1329)
  19. By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading. (ESHB 1329)
  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESHB 1329)
  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESHB 1329)
  22. SGE - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESHB 1329)
  23. First reading, referred to State Government & Elections. (ESHB 1329)
  24. Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 3. (ESHB 1329)
  25. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESHB 1329)
  26. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESHB 1329)
  27. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESHB 1329)
  28. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  29. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESHB 1329)
  30. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  31. LG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESHB 1329)
  32. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESHB 1329)
  33. Minority; without recommendation. (ESHB 1329)
  34. Minority; without recommendation.
  35. LG - Executive action taken by committee.
  36. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  37. LG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  38. First reading, referred to Local Government.

HB 1329 in other sessions

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

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