Committee hears proposal to reestablish joint select committee on civic health

Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, which would reestablish a joint select committee on civic health through the start of the 2029 regular session and expand legislative membership, was presented to the State Government Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on the committee’s first hearing day of the 2026 legislative session.

Greg Bogle, committee staff, told the panel the measure extends the committee created in 2024, adds four legislative members to the body and requires preliminary and final reports to be filed ahead of subsequent legislative sessions. He said the reestablished committee would report prior to the 2027, 2028 and 2029 regular sessions.

Lieutenant Governor Heck, appearing as the committee’s designated chair for the joint select committee, urged the panel to continue the work. “Engage respectfully, seek common ground, disagree constructively,” he said, summarizing the committee’s three core principles and describing broad bipartisan interest among legislators to remain involved.

Sponsor Senator John Lubbock and Senator Ron Masal described community outreach and bipartisan support, with Lubbock noting local meetings with groups such as Building Bridges in Snohomish County. No committee action was taken; Vice Chair Claudia Kauffman reported 20 people had signed in in favor and 53 opposed for the resolution. The chair closed the hearing and moved the measure toward the committee’s executive session calendar.

The resolution seeks to build on prior Project for Civic Health work convened by the lieutenant governor’s office and to create a venue for legislators across parties to develop recommendations to improve civic engagement and governance. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing; sponsors and staff said they would be available for follow‑up questions before executive action.