Panel hears bill to expand language access in elections, lower county thresholds and create pilot program

Olympia — The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on House Bill 1381, a measure to expand language access in elections by lowering the thresholds that trigger non‑English voting materials and creating a grant-funded pilot program for selected counties.

Desiree Omley, OPR staff, told the committee that under current federal standards jurisdictions must provide translated voting materials when certain thresholds of limited‑English‑proficient voting‑age citizens and illiteracy rates are met. HB 1381 would lower the county threshold from 5 percent to 2.5 percent and would include certain 17‑year‑olds participating in the future‑voter program when calculating covered populations.

Representative Clyde Shavers, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the legislation “is an important step towards ensuring that every eligible voter in Washington state has an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy.” He said reducing the threshold reflects the state’s diversity and will make language assistance available to more communities.

The bill also directs the Secretary of State to designate covered counties beginning August 1, 2025, and to implement a grant program to help jurisdictions provide translated materials; staff said the measure would be null and void if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2025. Staff described a pilot that would apply a lower percentage threshold to counties with populations between 125,000 and 225,000 — examples cited included Benton and Skagit counties — and said the Secretary of State must report to the Legislature on the pilot’s effects.

Supporters from immigrant-advocacy and civic organizations urged passage. Jake Garcia of the Latino Community Fund said the bill “empowers limited English proficiency community members to make informed decisions on vital community issues.” Shoma Lahiri Gupta of One America called the proposal a way to “make our election system in Washington more accessible for all.”

Representatives of the Secretary of State’s office said they support the policy but flagged fiscal requirements. Brian Hatfield, legislative director for Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, told the committee preliminary cost estimates could be substantial and cited an approximate preliminary per‑county figure discussed in internal estimates; the office said it would provide more precise numbers to the committee.

No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.

Why it matters: lowering the threshold would extend language assistance to more counties and voters and is tied to grant funding and a state designation process. Sponsors and immigrant‑rights groups said the change will reduce barriers to participation; the Secretary of State’s office supported the policy but urged that funding be identified.

Next steps: the bill was heard in committee and will require further appropriation and policy consideration to move forward.