SB 5245 — Concerning the oath of office for members of the state legislature.

S-0686.2S-0409.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5245 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Krishnadasan, Valdez, Nobles, Shewmake, and J.

Wilson)Wilson READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/11/25.01/14/25.

ANReferred ACT Relating to authorizingCommittee countyon commissionersState toGovernment, administerTribal oathsAffairs of& officeElections. to state legislators;

andAN amendingACT RCWRelating 36.32.120.to the oath of office for members of the state legislature;

amending RCW 29A.04.133 and 36.32.120;

and adding a new section to chapter 44.04 RCW.

NEW SECTION.

A new section is added to chapter 44.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Elected and appointed members of the senate and house of representatives, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of (senator or representative) of the State of Washington to the best of my ability." Which oath or affirmation may be administered by any person authorized to administer oaths, a certificate whereof shall be affixed thereto by the person administering the oath, and the oath or affirmation so certified shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.

(2) The following persons are eligible to administer the oath of office:

(a) Court commissioners pursuant to RCW 2.24.010;

p.

1 SB 5245 (b) Judicial officers pursuant to RCW 2.28.060;

(c) Every court, judge, clerk of a court, state-certified court reporter, or notary public pursuant to RCW 5.28.010;

and (d) County councilmembers and commissioners pursuant to RCW 36.32.120.

Sec.

2.

RCW 29A.04.133 and 2007 c 374 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

"Qualified" when pertaining to a winner of an election means that for such election:

(1) The results have been certified;

(2) Any required bond has been posted;

and (3) The winner has taken and subscribed an oath or affirmation in compliance with ((the)) section 1 of this act or other appropriate statute, or if none is specified, that he or she will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office to the best of his or her ability.

This oath or affirmation shall be administered and certified by any officer or notary public authorized to administer oaths, without charge therefor.

Sec.

3.

(5) Allow all accounts legally chargeable against the county not otherwise provided for, and audit the accounts of all officers having p.the care, management, collection, or disbursement of any money belonging to the county or appropriated to its benefit;

1p. SSB 5245 the care, management, collection, or disbursement of any money belonging to the county or appropriated to its benefit;

2 SB 5245 (6) Have the care of the county property and the management of the county funds and business and in the name of the county prosecute and defend all actions for and against the county, and such other powers as are or may be conferred by law;

For purposes of this subsection, a summary shall mean a brief description which succinctly describes the main p.points of the proposed regulation.

2When SSBthe 5245county pointspublishes ofa summary, the proposedpublication regulation.shall include a statement that the full text p.

When3 theSB county5245 publishes a summary, the publication shall include a statement that the full text of the proposed regulation will be mailed upon request.

(9) Have power to administer oaths or affirmations necessary in the discharge of their dutiesduties, ((and)),or andas tootherwise administerauthorized oathsby section 1 of officethis act, and commit for contempt any witness refusing to statetestify legislators;before them with the same power as district judges;

(10) Have power to commitdeclare forby contemptordinance anywhat witnessshall refusingbe todeemed testifya beforenuisance themwithin with the samecounty, powerincluding but not limited to "litter" and "potentially dangerous litter" as districtdefined judges;in RCW 70A.200.030;

(((10))) (11) Have power to declare by ordinance what shall be deemed a nuisance within the county, including but not limited to "litter" and "potentially dangerous litter" as defined in RCW 70A.200.030;

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