HJM 4005
In CommitteeHouse
Const. conv. applications
Rescinding prior applications for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
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 withdraws Washington State’s previous applications to Congress calling for a constitutional convention to amend the U.S. Constitution. It declares that past applications — some over 120 years old — are no longer valid and that any future attempt would require a new, separate legislative vote.
- Officially rescinds all prior applications by the Washington State Legislature to Congress for a constitutional convention to amend the U.S. Constitution.
- Applies to all past applications, whether limited (e.g., banning polygamy, limiting federal redistricting oversight) or unlimited (plenary conventions), regardless of year or subject.
- Declares that future legislatures must pass a new application if they wish to call a constitutional convention — current or past applications no longer count.
- Directs that copies of this memorial be sent to the President of the U.S., Congress leaders, Washington’s congressional delegation, and the Director of the Office of the Federal Registrar.
- Requests that the Congressional Records include this memorial and update the official tally of state applications to exclude Washington until a new one is passed.
Who is affected
- Washington residents — Washington residents may be affected if future constitutional amendments proposed by a national convention could alter rights or state powers, though this bill removes Washington’s current participation in such efforts.
- Washington State Legislature — The state legislature loses the ability to trigger or contribute to a constitutional convention under Article V unless it passes a new application in the future.
- Office of the Federal Registrar — The Office of the Federal Registrar must update its official tally of state applications to reflect Washington’s withdrawal.
- U.S. Congress members — Federal lawmakers (including Washington’s congressional delegation) must be notified of Washington’s rescission and may consider it in future discussions about constitutional amendments.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
The bill removes Washington from an active role in a potentially risky constitutional convention process — one that, historically, has never occurred since 1787 and carries significant uncertainty about scope, rules, and potential for unintended amendments (e.g., to voting rights, state sovereignty, or civil liberties). This reduces the state’s exposure to speculative and potentially harmful constitutional overhauls initiated by outside actors.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Section 1: 'officially rescinds, repeals, cancels, nullifies, and supersedes any and all prior applications... regardless of when...'By formally clarifying that prior applications are invalid and requiring a new legislative vote for any future attempt, the bill enhances legal clarity and democratic accountability: future generations cannot be bound by decisions made over a century ago, and any move toward a convention must be re-approved by a current, democratically elected legislature.
Local GovernmentRef: WHEREAS (3): 'Article V... provides a vehicle... upon application by two thirds of the several states'; WHEREAS (5): 'Scholars differ as to whether such applications ever expire...'The bill improves transparency and federal recordkeeping by ensuring Washington’s withdrawal is officially documented, preventing confusion or miscounting in Congress’s tally of state applications — a procedural improvement that supports accurate federal-state communication.
Local GovernmentRef: BE IT RESOLVED, that... this Memorial be published in the Congressional Records and listed in the official tally... stating definitively that the state of Washington should not be included... until a future legislature duly passes a new application
Potential Concerns (2)
The bill expresses concern that wealthy interest groups could exploit historical applications to push through amendments that erode rights — but this is speculative and not grounded in evidence or specific mechanisms in the bill. The resolution itself does not prevent such exploitation; it only withdraws Washington’s current participation, leaving the risk unchanged in practice.
Rights & LibertiesRef: WHEREAS (6): Wealthy interest groups could exploit decisions made by our ancestors to amend the Constitution and remove or alter our rightsThe bill imposes a minor administrative burden on state staff to prepare and transmit the memorial and on the Office of the Federal Registrar to update its records — but these are routine, low-cost tasks with no fiscal impact cited.
Local GovernmentRef: BE IT RESOLVED, that copies... be transmitted to... the Director of the Office of the Federal Registrar... and that this Memorial be published in the Congressional Records
Who Is Most Affected
Washington residents may benefit from reduced risk of unwanted constitutional changes (e.g., to voting rights, reproductive rights, or environmental protections) that could emerge from an unbounded national convention — though the actual risk of such an outcome remains extremely low given the Article V ratification threshold (38 states).
The state legislature gains clarity and control over future constitutional convention efforts, ensuring that any such move requires fresh legislative approval — but also loses the theoretical ability to leverage past applications, even if they were arguably still active.
The Office of the Federal Registrar must perform a minor administrative update to its records, but this has no operational or fiscal burden beyond routine recordkeeping.
U.S. Congress members receive formal notice of Washington’s withdrawal, which may inform future Article V discussions — but since Washington’s prior applications were likely inactive or obsolete, this has minimal practical impact on federal decision-making.
National advocacy groups that support or oppose constitutional conventions (e.g., on campaign finance, term limits, or balanced budgets) may view this as a symbolic win for caution — but the bill does not alter the national balance of applications (Washington’s prior ones were likely already discounted by scholars and Congress).