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• Introduced by Rep. Mark Miloscia, (D-Federal Way) (D) on January 16, 2009, prohibits political advertising or electioneering communications that with actual malice make a statement constituting libel or defamation per se. "Libel or defamation per se" is defined as statements that tend to expose a person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, to deprive him or her of public confidence or social interaction, or to injure him or her in his or her business or occupation. (See also Companion SB 5211) .
  • Referred to the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on January 16, 2009.
    • Substitute offered in the House on January 29, 2009, to add an additional prohibition regarding defamatory or libelous statements about one's campaign opponents in the voters' pamphlet. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on January 29, 2009.
    • Referred to the House Rules Committee on January 30, 2009.
• Passed in the House (92 to 2) on February 23, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on February 25, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on February 25, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on March 18, 2009.
• Passed in the Senate (44 to 1) on April 17, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on April 25, 2009, clarifies that political advertising or election communications that contain a false statement of about another candidate must also be made with actual malice and be libelous or defamatory in nature to be a violation of the campaign laws in chapter 42.17 RCW. Prohibits a candidate from making a defamatory or libelous statement about his or her opponent in the candidate's statement submitted to the Secretary of State for inclusion in the voters' pamphlet .