SGA 9175
In CommitteeSenate
RHONDA SALVESEN
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 Rhonda Salvesen to the Clemency and Pardons Board for a four-year term. The board advises the governor on granting clemency (such as pardons or sentence reductions) to people convicted of crimes in Washington.
- Appoints Rhonda Salvesen as a member of the Clemency and Pardons Board.
- Sets the term of office from October 17, 2024, to September 25, 2028.
- Fills a vacancy on the board created by the expiration of a prior member’s term.
Who is affected
- Clemency and Pardons Board members — The individual named, Rhonda Salvesen, is appointed to serve on the Clemency and Pardons Board for a four-year term.
- People seeking clemency or pardons in Washington State — The board reviews applications for clemency (a pardon, commutation, or reprieve) and makes recommendations to the governor for executive clemency actions.
- Governor’s Office — The governor relies on the board’s recommendations when deciding whether to grant clemency, so this appointment affects how those decisions are made.
Who Is Most Affected
Rhonda Salvesen gains a formal, four-year public appointment with influence over clemency recommendations — a position of civic authority and policy influence. This is a neutral-to-slightly-positive impact for her, as it enhances her public profile and access to executive decision-making channels.
People seeking clemency may benefit if Salvesen brings a consistent, compassionate, or reform-oriented perspective to board deliberations — but since this bill only appoints one member and does not change board procedures, rules, or staffing levels, the practical effect on applicants is likely negligible or unmeasurable.
The Governor retains sole legal authority to grant or deny clemency; this appointment only adds one advisor to the board. The Governor’s decision-making process may gain one additional voice, but no change in structure, thresholds, or transparency is mandated — so influence is marginal.
The broader public — including families of incarcerated individuals, advocates for criminal justice reform, and communities disproportionately impacted by incarceration — may benefit indirectly if the board’s composition shifts toward greater diversity or lived experience over time. However, this single appointment does not constitute such a shift by itself.
State employees and agencies that support the board (e.g., Department of Corrections, Office of the Attorney General) face no procedural or resource changes due to this appointment — workload and operations remain unchanged.