House Bill 1116 would designate Election Day — the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November — as a legislatively recognized day and direct the Office of the Secretary of State to create programming materials to support civic education, staff said.

Connor Schiff, committee staff, told members that the bill would encourage government entities, schools and cultural organizations to provide educational programming related to democracy and voting on Election Day. "The office of the secretary of state is required to create election day programming materials to support this programming," Schiff said in the staff briefing.

Representative Charlotte Mena, the bill sponsor and committee chair, described the proposal as a way to elevate the civic significance of voting and to provide programming that could interest students and younger voters. "The programming piece I think is intended to get kids excited about election day and thinking about this as a celebration," Mena said.

Testimony in support included Marcelino Ruiz Martel, a third‑grade dual‑language teacher from Pierce County, who told the committee making Election Day a recognized day would "give teachers like me an additional tool to educate students about the significance of elections." He described student engagement and said schools could use the day for civics activities and to involve families.

Andrew Villeneuve of the Northwest Progressive Institute said polling his organization conducted indicated majority public support for making general election day a federal holiday and argued recognition at the state level could support turnout. Several online and in‑person proponents likewise urged passage, citing low turnout in some recent statewide and local elections and the potential to treat voting as a civic celebration.

Witnesses and members clarified that the bill, as drafted in the hearing, designates a legislatively recognized day rather than establishing a paid state holiday that would close schools or workplaces.

No committee vote or formal action is recorded in the hearing transcript.