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Legislators back plan to reestablish joint select committee on civic health
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406 would reestablish the joint select committee on civic health through January 2029, expand membership, and require periodic reports; sponsors and the lieutenant governor framed the committee as a vehicle for cross‑partisan civic engagement and civic education.
The State Government and Tribal Relations Committee heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406 on Feb. 19, a proposal to reestablish and expand the joint select committee on civic health.
Staff said the original Project for Civic Health convened a summit in October 2023 and the legislature created a joint select committee in 2024 that issued final recommendations in January 2026. SCR 8406 would reestablish the committee, add one legislative member from each caucus corner (increasing membership), require periodic reports to the legislature, and set a termination date of January 2029. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor will provide staff support; travel reimbursement for legislative members will come from the Senate and House.
Senator John Lovick (44th District) and Representative Mary Dye (9th District) urged the committee to extend the work, praising civil, cross‑partisan dialogue and describing the committee as a venue to "restore a virtuous civic cycle." Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck said the committee complements the Project for Civic Health and outlined three operating principles: engage respectfully, seek common ground, and disagree constructively. Heck cited work by the Evans School and the Ruckelshaus Center as informing committee priorities.
Public testimony included Anthony Mixer, who spoke in favor of the resolution and urged members to continue fostering open dialogue across political perspectives.
The committee heard the resolution and testimony; no formal vote was recorded during the meeting.
