SGA 9160
In CommitteeSenate
BRIAN S. SMITH
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 Brian S. Smith to serve on the Sentencing Guidelines Commission for a three-year term. The commission helps develop sentencing policies used by Washington courts.
- Appoints Brian S. Smith as a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
- Sets his term to begin on September 11, 2024, and end on August 2, 2027.
Who is affected
- Sentencing Guidelines Commission — The Sentencing Guidelines Commission is a state body that helps set sentencing policies and guidelines for Washington courts to follow in criminal cases.
Who Is Most Affected
As the appointee, Brian S. Smith gains formal authority to participate in shaping sentencing policies, but this is a non-compensated, part-time public service role with no direct financial or legal advantage to him personally.
The commission’s work influences sentencing practices across Washington, potentially affecting fairness, racial equity, and incarceration rates — but this appointment alone does not change commission composition or policy direction in a measurable way without context on Smith’s background or the commission’s current balance.
The commission includes judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and community representatives; adding one member does not alter the statutory balance of voting members (12 total) or decision-making thresholds, so institutional operations remain unchanged.
No fiscal impact is identified, and the role is unpaid; state costs remain unchanged.