To proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district levies.   Official Text and Analysis.

By Senator Eide, Prime Sponsor; Greg Kirsch, Chehalis School District; Dale McDaniel, Onalaska School District; Charles, Hoff, Federal Way School Board, and others. They testified that we have been trying for a very long time to pass this legislation and this is the year. It is the number one priority for many organizations. Under the current super majority with validation requirements those people who stay home and do not vote have more power than the people who actually vote. That is unfair and is not the way democracy should work. The legislators have reviewed and debated this issue for years and it is time to finally let the voters of Washington debate this issue. School districts are spending a great deal of time and resources trying to get levies and bonds passed under the current requirements that could be better spent educating our children. Many times school districts come within just a few votes of passing the levies and this process becomes morally draining and frustrating for parents and educators. The levy and bond failures have prevented many schools from building and maintaining their facilities and often, when levies fail, the best and the brightest teachers start leaving because they see that resources are getting tighter and they are fearful for their jobs. Last year over 62,000 students were impacted by levy failures. There is growing evidence that school facilities do make a difference in a student's learning and inequalities in school facilities across the state due to the inability in some areas to pass levies contribute to the inequality in student learning.

By Senator Joyce Mulliken, citizen. She testified that opposition to a change in the Constitution and current law to allow a simple majority does not equate to a lack of support for education. Low-income, small school districts can pass levies and bonds under the current requirements because small communities see the schools as the heart of the community. It is not a lack of voting that defeats levies and bonds it is people choosing not to support the levy. There is a fear and concern over voting in our state and there is a perception that Seattle is controlling the voting of the state and some people in this state may not believe that they have a fair representation at the ballot right now.

To make a technical amendment. In the original bill an old version of the Washington State Constitution was amended. The substitute uses the current Constitutional language.

To provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district levies.