History Of Referendum Bills

The following is a history of state referendum bills filed with the Office of the Secretary of State.

REFERENDUM BILL NO. 1(Chapter 99, Laws of 1919, State system Trunk Line Highways) Filed March 13, 1919. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 2, 1920 and was rejected by the following vote: For – 117,425 Against – 191,783.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 2(Chapter 1, Laws of 1920, Extraordinary Session, Soldiers’ Equalized Compensation) Filed March 25, 1920. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 2, 1922 and was approved by the following vote: For – 224,356 Against – 88,128.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 3(Chapter 87, Laws of 1923, Electric Power Bill) Filed March 22, 1923. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 4, 1924 and was rejected by the following vote: For -–99,459 Against – 208,809.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 4(Chapter 164, Laws of 1935, Flood Control; Creating Sinking Fund) Filed March 22, 1935. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 3, 1936 and was rejected by the following vote: For – 114,055 Against – 334,035
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 5(Chapter 83, Laws of 1939, 40-Mill Tax Limit) Filed March 10, 1939. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 5, 1940 and was approved by the following vote: For – 390,639 Against – 149,843.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 6 (Chapter 176, Laws of 1941, Taxation of Real and Personal Property) Filed March 22, 1941. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 3, 1942 and was approved by the following vote: For – 252,431 Against – 75,540.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 7(Chapter 229, Laws of 1949, $40,000,000 Bond Issue to give State Assistance in Construction of Public School Plant Facilities) Filed March 22, 1949. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 7, 1950 and was approved by the following vote: For 395,417 Against – 248,200.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 8(Chapter 230, Laws of 1949, $20,000,000 Bond Issue to Provide Funds for Buildings at State Operated Institutions) Filed March 22, 1949. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 7, 1950 and was approved by the following vote: For 377,941 Against – 262,615.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 9(Chapter 231, Laws of 1949, $20,000,000 Bond Issue to Provide Funds for Buildings at State Institutions of Higher Learning) Filed March 22, 1949. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 7, 1950 and was rejected by the following vote: For – 312,500 Against – 314,840.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 10(Chapter 299, Laws of 1957, $25,000,000, Bond Issue to Provide Funds for Buildings at State Operated Institutions and State Institutions of Higher Learning) Filed March 26, 1957. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 4, 1958 and was approved by the following vote: For – 402,937 Against – 391,726.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 11(Chapter 12, Laws of 1963, Extraordinary Session, Outdoor Recreation Bond Issue) Filed April 18, 1963. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 3, 1964 and was approved by the following vote: For -–614,903 Against – 434,978.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 12(Chapter 26, Laws of 1963, Extraordinary Session, Bonds of Public School Facilities) Filed April 18, 1963. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 3, 1964 and was approved by the following vote: For –782,682 Against – 300,674.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 13(Chapter 27, Laws of 1963, Extraordinary Session, Bonds for Juvenile Correctional Institution) Filed April 18, 1963. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election held on November 3, 1964 and was approved by the following vote: For – 761,862 Against – 299,783.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 14(Chapter 158, Laws of 1965, Extraordinary Session, Bonds for Public School Facilities) Filed May 12, 1965. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 8, 1966 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 583,705 Against – 288,357.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 15(Chapter 172, Laws of 1965, Extraordinary Session, Bonds for Public Institutions) Filed May 15, 1965. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 8, 1966 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 597,715 Against – 263,902.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 16(Chapter 152, Laws of 1965, Extraordinary Session, Congressional Reapportionment and Redistricting) Enrolled bill was received directly from the office of Chief Clerk, House of Representatives and filed May 7, 1965, thus bypassing the office of the Governor. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 8, 1966 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For 416,630 Against – 384,366.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 17(Chapter 106, Laws of 1967, Water Pollution Control Facilities Bonds) Filed March 21, 1967. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 5, 1968 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 845,372 Against – 276,161.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 18(Chapter 126, Laws of 1967, Extraordinary Session, bonds for Outdoor Recreation) Filed May 3, 1967. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 5, 1968 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For 763,806 Against – 354,646.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 19(Chapter 148, Laws of 1967, Extraordinary Session, State building Projects; Bond Issue) Filed May 10, 1967. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 5, 1968 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 606,236 Against – 458,358.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 20(Chapter 3, Laws of 1970, Changes in Abortion Law) Filed February 9, 1970. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 3, 1970 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 599,959 Against – 462,174.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 21(Chapter 40, Laws of 1970, Outdoor Recreation Bonds; Sales; Interest) Filed February 24, 1970. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 3, 1970 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 520,162 Against – 474,548.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 22(Chapter 66, Laws of 1970, State Building Bonds; Sales; Interest) Filed February 24, 1970. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 3, 1970 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: For – 399,608 Against – 574,887.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 23(Chapter 67, Laws of 1970, Pollution Control Bonds; Sales; Interest) Filed February 24, 1970. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 3, 1970 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 581,819 Against – 414,976
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 24(Chapter 82, Laws of 1972, Lobbyists—Regulation, Registration and Reporting) Filed February 22, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For - 696,455 Against - 576,404
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 25(Chapter 98, Laws of 1972, Regulating Certain Electoral Campaign Financing) Filed February 24, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 694,818 Against – 574,856.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 26(Chapter 127, Laws of 1972, Bonds for Waste Disposal Facilities) Filed February 25, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 827,077 Against – 489,459.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 27(Chapter 128, Laws of 1972, Bonds for Water Supply Facilities) Filed February 28, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 790,063 Against – 544,176.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 28(Chapter 129, Laws of 1972, Bonds for Public Recreation Facilities) Filed February 28, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 758,530 Against – 579,975.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 29Chapter 130, Laws of 1972, Health, Social Service Facility bonds) Filed February 28, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 734,712 Against – 594,172.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 30(Chapter 132, Laws of 1972, Bonds for Public Transportation Improvements) Filed February 28, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: For – 637,841 Against – 665,493.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 31(Chapter 133, Laws of 1972, Bonds for Community College Facilities) Filed February 28, 1972. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1972 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 721,403 Against – 594,963.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 32Chapter 199, Laws of 1973, 1st Extraordinary Session (Shall county auditors be required to appoint precinct committeemen of major political parties as deputy registrars upon their request?) Filed April 26, 1973. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 6, 1973 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: For – 291,323 Against – 609,306.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 33Chapter 200, Laws of 1973, 1st Extraordinary Session (Shall personalized motor vehicle license plates be issued with resulting extra fees to be used exclusively for wildlife preservation?) Filed April 26, 1973. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 6, 1973 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 613,921 Against – 362,195.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 34Chapter 152, Laws of 1974, 1st Extraordinary Session (Shall a state lottery be conducted under gambling commission regulations with prizes totaling not less than 45% of gross income?) Filed April 26, 1974. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 5, 1974 state general election and received the following vote: For – 515,404 Against – 425,903. Since this was a gambling measure, a 60% “yes” vote was required. Therefore, the referendum did not become law.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 35Chapter 89, Laws of 1975, 1st Extraordinary Session. (Shall the Governor, in filling U. S. Senate vacancies, be limited to the same political party as the former incumbent?) Filed March 27, 1975. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 4, 1975 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: For – 430,642 Against – 501,894.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 36Chapter 104, Laws of 1976, Extraordinary Session (Shall certain appointed state officers be required to file reports of their financial affairs with the Public Disclosure Commission?) Filed March 19, 1976. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 2, 1976 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 963,309 Against – 419,693.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 37Chapter 221, Laws of 1979, 1st Extraordinary Session (Shall $25 million in state general obligation bonds be authorized for facilities to train, rehabilitate and care for handicapped persons?) Filed June 11, 1979. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 6, 1979 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 576,882 Against – 286,365.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 38Chapter 234, Laws of 1979, 1st Extraordinary Session (Shall $125 million in state general obligation bonds be authorized for planning, acquisition, construction and improvement of water supply facilities?) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 4, 1980 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 1,008,646 Against – 527,454.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 39Chapter 159, Laws of 1980 (Shall $450,000,000 in state general obligation bonds be authorized for planning, designing, acquiring, constructing and improving public waste disposal facilities?) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 4, 1980 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 964,450 Against – 558,328.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 40Chapter 1, Laws of 1986, 1st Extraordinary Session (Shall state officials continue challenges to the federal selection process for high-level nuclear waste repositories and shall a means be provided for voter disapproval of any Washington site?) Filed August 1, 1986. The measure was submitted to the voters at the state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 1,055,896 Against – 222,141.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 41Chapter 246, Laws of 1987, Regular Session. (Shall the State challenge in the United States Supreme Court the constitutionality of authority delegated to the federal reserve system?) Filed April 24, 1987. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 3, 1987 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: For – 282,613 Against – 541,387.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 42Chapter 54, Laws of 1991, Regular Session (Shall enhanced 911 emergency telephone dialing be provided throughout the state and be funded by a tax on telephone lines?) Filed May 1, 1991. The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 5, 1991 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 901,854 Against – 573,251.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 43Chapter 7, Laws of 1994, 1st Special Session (Shall taxes on sales of cigarettes, liquor, and pop syrup be extended to fund violence reduction and drug enforcement programs?) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 8, 1994 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 947,847 Against – 712,575.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 44Chapter 225, Laws of 1994 and Chapter 364, Laws of 1995, Regular Session (Shall the alcohol fuel tax exemption given to fuel distributors be eliminated?) The measure was not submitted to voters because of court ruling.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 45Chapter 2, Laws of 1995, First Special Session (Shall the fish and wildlife commission, rather than the governor, appoint the department’s director and regulate food fish and shellfish?) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 7, 1995 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 809,083 Against – 517,433.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 46 Section 2, Chapter 2, Laws of 1997, Regular Session (Relating to property taxes) The measure was not submitted to the voters as Referendum Bill 46, But was submitted as Referendum Bill 47.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 47Chapter 3, Laws of 1997, Regular Session (Shall property taxes be limited by modifying the 106 percent limit, allowing property valuation increases to be spread over time, and reducing the state levy?) The measure was submitted to voters at the November 4, 1997 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 1,009,309 Against – 579,620.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 48Chapter 220, Laws of 1997, Regular Session (Shall a public stadium authority be authorized to build and operate a football/soccer stadium and exhibition center financed by tax revenues and private contributions?) The measure was submitted to the voters at the June 17, 1997 special election and was approved by the following vote: For – 820,364 Against – 783,584.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 49Chapter 321, Laws of 1998 (Shall motor vehicle excise taxes be reduced and state revenues reallocated; $1.9 billion in bonds for state and local highways approved; and spending limits modified?) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 3, 1998 state general election and was approved by the following vote: For – 1,056,786 Against – 792,783.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 50Chapter 253, Laws of 2000 (Shall the state department of licensing be authorized to charge fees to geologists in sufficient amounts to cover the costs of licensing the geologist profession?) The measure was not submitted to the voters by court order.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 51Chapter 202, Laws of 2002 (The Legislature has passed House Bill No. 2969, financing transportation improvements through transportation fees and taxes. This bill would increase highway capacity, public transportation, passenger and freight rail, and transportation financing accountability through increased fuel excise taxes, sales taxes on vehicles, and weight fees on trucks and large vehicles.) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 5, 2002 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: Approved – 674,724 Rejected – 1,081,580.
REFERENDUM BILL NO. 52Chapter 35, Laws of 2010 (The legislature has passed Engrossed House Bill No. 2561, concerning authorizing and funding bonds for energy efficiency projects in schools. This bill would authorize bonds to finance construction and repair projects increasing energy efficiency in public schools and higher education buildings, and continue the sales tax on bottled water otherwise expiring in 2013.) The measure was submitted to the voters at the November 2, 2010 state general election and was rejected by the following vote: Approved – 1,139,527 Rejected – 1,325,253