(The Center Square) – A bill that changes the state’s initiative process was touted by supporters as stopping aggressive signatures gathers and wealthy special interests Tuesday, but critics dubbed it “anti-Democratic” and an “initiative killer.”
The legislation-SB 5973– sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, would require a “demonstration of support before issuance of a ballot measure title and authorize citizen actions for certain signature gatherer compensation violations,” according to the bill summary. The bill would require a minimum of 1000 signatures be submitted as part of the filing of a proposed initiative or referendum.
“Our current paper signature practice, incentivizes signature gatherers to use aggressive misleading tactics,” said Valdez Tuesday at the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections committee hearing. “It also enables wealthy interests to buy their way onto the ballot.”
Republicans ahead of the Tuesday hearing, said the bill prevents people from going directly to voters.
“It’s anti-Democratic,” said Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, at a media availability. “It’s a continued effort to hide from the public when it comes to actual policies that people care about when they get up each day. And you know it’s at odds with the clear intent of the state’s constitution.”
Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, opposed putting more barriers to getting an initiative on the ballot.
“They want to change the rules on how the ballot title is formulated. Now they want to make it harder to qualify initiatives in the first place,” Stokesbary said. “I think it’s also part of a broader theme where Olympia politicians want to blame other people and disclaim their own role in the process.”
On Jan. 18, 2026, former Secretary of State Sam Reed sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to reject the bill.
“Since 1912, the citizens of the state of Washington have cared deeply about their initiative and referendum rights under our Constitution,” Reed wrote. “I urge you not to suppress voter involvement in this honored tradition. In my twelve years as Secretary of State, I learned that the voters of this state view the initiative process as almost sacred.”
Current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, who is a Democrat, also opposed the bill.
“I’m asking you to not move this forward, but I’m willing to work with you Mr. Chair (Valdez) to tackle this fraudulent signature [issue] with more money for my office,” said Hobbs, whose comment generated a chuckle from members.
Hobbs noted his office is no longer overwhelmed by the filing of initiatives since raising the filing fee last year.
Zack Nelson with the SEIU who told members he supports the bill because “millionaires and billionaires’ prey on working people to achieve their own selfish ends.”
He was referring to Brian Heywood of Let’s Go Washington, who has backed several initiatives, using much of his own money to pay for signature gathering.
Nelson claimed he witnessed a signature gatherer at a Tacoma Fred Meyer store “visibly ill in freezing weather collecting signatures and misrepresenting facts of the initiative to people walking in.”
His testimony drew eye rolls from Heywood who testified against the bill.
“What we’ve seen is an attempt over the last years to, one, assign controversial ballot titles that are designed to mislead or confuse,” he said. “There’s been a turning of a blind eye to violent attacks against signature gatherers in contravention to Washington election law.”
He continued pressing the case that state lawmakers have done everything they can to make the initiative process more burdensome and this bill continues in that vein.
“This should be voted no,” said Heywood who had to rush his statement as the committee chair provided only 90 minutes for testifiers as the bill was scheduled last in the hearing, despite the great interest.
More than 10,500 people signed in ‘con’ on the bill and 1200 signed in ‘pro’, however more people were given time to testify in support during the hearing, than were allowed to testify against.
The bill is scheduled for a vote by the State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections committee on Friday at 10:30.
