House Passes Initiative Bill

Spokane County voters are one step closer to gaining the right to initiative and referendum.

A bill introduced by Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane, passed the House unanimously on Tuesday.

The bill, HB2367, was inspired by voter enthusiasm for the initiative portion of a proposed county charter that failed at the ballot box last November, Crouse said.

Initiatives allow voters to put issues on the ballot not proposed by county lawmakers. Referendums allow voters to repeal ordinances they don’t like. In both cases, enough signatures must be gathered to put it on the ballot.

“We’re giving the people a right to do something,” Crouse said.

Voters in other large Washington counties already have the right to initiative and referendum through their county charters, Crouse said. Voters in the city of Spokane also have that right.

The bill must now pass the Senate.