SHB 1116
In CommitteeHouse
Election day
Recognizing election day.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill formally recognizes election day (the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November) as a state-recognized holiday and adds it to the list of holidays in state law. It also expands holiday flexibility for public employees and encourages civic education around elections.
- Adds 'election day' (the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November) to the list of officially recognized state holidays in RCW 1.16.050, though it is not a paid legal holiday for most employees.
- Allows state and local government employees to select one additional paid holiday per year (beyond the 11 existing paid holidays), subject to employer approval.
- Grants all public employees (including school and higher education staff) two unpaid holidays per year for religious or conscientious reasons, including election day if chosen.
- Directs the Secretary of State’s office to develop educational programming and materials for schools, governments, and cultural groups to use in recognizing election day.
- Encourages state and local governments, schools, and cultural organizations to hold educational activities about democracy and voting on election day.
Who is affected
- State and local government employees — State and local government employees gain an additional paid holiday option they can choose, and all public employees gain two additional unpaid holidays for religious or conscientious reasons, which may include election day if selected.
- Schools, colleges, and cultural organizations — Public schools, colleges, universities, and cultural organizations are encouraged to hold educational events about democracy and voting on election day.
- Washington residents and voters — Voters and the general public benefit from increased visibility and civic education around elections, potentially boosting participation.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
The bill strengthens religious and conscientious liberty by guaranteeing two unpaid holidays for faith-based or moral reasons—including election day—without requiring employer justification beyond 'undue hardship,' aligning with federal accommodation standards.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)The additional paid holiday option gives public employees meaningful flexibility to choose a day meaningful to them (e.g., election day, personal anniversary, family obligations), improving work-life balance and morale—especially valuable for hourly and frontline workers.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)Mandating civic education around elections—especially in a state with high voter participation—reinforces democratic literacy for students and the public, potentially increasing long-term voter turnout, civic trust, and youth engagement.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3While allowing two unpaid holidays, the bill includes a public safety exception—employers may deny requests if staffing would compromise safety—balancing employee rights with community needs in critical services like law enforcement and fire response.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)
Potential Concerns (4)
The bill allows state and local government employees to select one additional paid holiday per year, which increases payroll costs for employers without specifying funding sources—this could strain local budgets and lead to reduced services, wage freezes, or increased taxes to compensate.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)Mandating two unpaid holidays per employee for religious or conscientious reasons increases scheduling complexity and potential staffing gaps—especially in public safety, education, and critical infrastructure—potentially degrading service delivery and increasing overtime costs.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)The bill explicitly preserves existing collective bargaining agreements and local ordinances, meaning the fiscal impact varies widely by jurisdiction—some may absorb the cost easily, others (especially cash-strapped rural counties or small school districts) may face real strain.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(6)The bill encourages civic education but provides no dedicated funding—schools may be asked to implement new programming without additional resources, potentially diverting time from core curriculum or requiring volunteer labor.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 3
Who Is Most Affected
State and local government employees gain meaningful flexibility—especially those who wish to observe election day or other faith-based holidays—though some may face scheduling conflicts or reduced service availability on their chosen days.
School districts and local governments may face increased labor costs and scheduling challenges, especially in small or underfunded districts—though collective bargaining agreements may mitigate some fiscal impact.
Students benefit from structured civic education around elections and democracy, potentially increasing political literacy and future voter turnout—especially valuable in a state with high but not universal participation.
Religious and conscientious observers (including public employees and community members) gain formal recognition of their right to observe election day or other faith-based dates, reinforcing religious liberty protections.
Voters and the broader public benefit from increased visibility and civic programming around elections, reinforcing democratic norms and potentially mitigating voter apathy—though the bill does not directly address structural barriers to voting.