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Evergreen Ledger

SHCR 4403

In Committee

House

Joel Pritchard State Library

Renaming the Joel Pritchard State Library.

This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 11, 2025
Last Action: January 12, 2026
Status: H Rules X
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesBalancedCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This resolution changes the name of the former state library building—now used as office space and previously renamed in honor of Joel Pritchard—from 'Joel Pritchard State Library' to 'Joel Pritchard Building' to avoid confusion about its current function. It also reaffirms the legislature’s admiration for Pritchard’s legacy.

  • Formally changes the name of the building currently known as the 'Joel Pritchard State Library' to the 'Joel Pritchard Building' to reflect its current use as a legislative office building.
  • Directs the Department of Enterprise Services to affix the new name to the building located at 415 15th Avenue Southwest in Olympia, Washington.
  • Affirms the legislature’s continued respect for Lieutenant Governor Joel Pritchard, highlighting his contributions to literacy, bipartisanship, and community life—including his love of pickleball.
  • Cites RCW 43.34.090 as the legal authority allowing the legislature to approve building names on the capitol campus.

Who is affected

  • State employees and capitol campus visitors — State employees and visitors to the capitol campus will see updated signage and references to the building, reducing confusion about its current use as office space rather than a library.
  • Joel Pritchard's family, colleagues, and supporters — The building's namesake, Joel Pritchard, is honored through continued recognition of his legacy, including his work promoting literacy, bipartisanship, and community engagement (e.g., pickleball).
  • Department of Enterprise Services — The Department of Enterprise Services will be responsible for implementing the name change, including updating signage and official records.
Fiscal impact: The resolution itself does not include funding or direct fiscal impact; any costs for renaming (e.g., new signage) would be part of the broader expansion and restoration project already underway.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 8:20 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (4)

  • The name change reduces confusion for capitol campus visitors and state employees by accurately reflecting the building’s current use as office space rather than a library, improving wayfinding and operational clarity.

    Local GovernmentRef: Section 1 (WHEREAS clauses) and Section 2 (RESOLVED clauses)

  • Accurate building naming supports emergency response and facility coordination by ensuring first responders and campus security reference the correct functional designation of the structure.

    Public SafetyRef: Section 1 (WHEREAS clauses)

  • The resolution reaffirms public recognition of Joel Pritchard’s legacy—including his work promoting literacy and bipartisanship—which supports civic education and historical awareness for students and the public.

    EducationRef: Section 1 (WHEREAS clauses)

  • The resolution aligns the building’s name with its current function and ongoing rehabilitation, supporting coherent long-term planning for the capitol campus and avoiding future miscommunication or costly rework.

    Local GovernmentRef: Section 1 (WHEREAS clauses) and Section 2 (RESOLVED clauses)
Potential Concerns (1)

  • The resolution requires the Department of Enterprise Services to update signage and official records for the building, adding administrative labor and potential minor procurement costs for new signage, even if minimal due to existing capital projects.

    Local GovernmentRef: Section 1 (WHEREAS clauses) and Section 2 (RESOLVED clauses)

Who Is Most Affected

State employees and capitol campus visitorsPositive Impact

State employees and capitol campus visitors benefit from clearer signage and reduced confusion about the building’s function, improving daily navigation and operational efficiency.

Joel Pritchard's family, colleagues, and supportersPositive Impact

Joel Pritchard’s family, colleagues, and supporters benefit from continued public recognition of his legacy, including his bipartisan leadership and community contributions, without altering the honorific nature of the naming.

Department of Enterprise ServicesMixed Impact

The Department of Enterprise Services must implement the name change (e.g., signage, records), but this is a minor administrative task likely absorbed within existing capital project budgets.

General public (visitors, researchers)Mixed Impact

Tourists and researchers who previously sought library services at the building may be briefly confused by the name change, but signage updates will quickly resolve this.

Olympia local businessesMixed Impact

Local Olympia businesses near the capitol campus may benefit indirectly from improved visitor navigation and reduced confusion, potentially increasing foot traffic to nearby services.