SGA 9118
In CommitteeSenate
ESTHER MATTHEWS
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 appoints Esther Matthews to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, a body that helps shape sentencing rules and policies in Washington State. Her term will run from April 2024 through June 2026.
- Appoints Esther Matthews as a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission
- Sets the term of appointment to end on June 27, 2026
- Appointed on April 9, 2024
Who is affected
- Esther Matthews — Esther Matthews is appointed to serve as a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, which helps develop and review sentencing policies for Washington state courts.
Who Is Most Affected
Esther Matthews gains formal authority to participate in shaping state sentencing policies, but the role is advisory and carries no direct personal financial gain or legal liability.
The Sentencing Guidelines Commission influences sentencing practices across Washington; appointments like this affect how sentencing rules evolve, potentially influencing incarceration rates, racial disparities, and reentry outcomes — but this specific appointment alone has no measurable impact on these broader outcomes without additional context or policy changes.
Local governments (e.g., counties, courts) implement sentencing guidelines; changes to guidelines can affect jail populations, court workload, and correctional spending — but this appointment alone does not alter guidelines or policy, only contributes to future deliberations.
State agencies like the Department of Corrections and Department of Social and Health Services may be impacted by future guideline changes, but this appointment alone does not trigger any immediate operational or fiscal effects.
Advocacy groups focused on criminal justice reform, racial equity, or public safety may view this appointment as a step toward or away from their goals — but since the bill is purely administrative and does not change policy, the stakeholder impact is minimal and symbolic.