Spokane, Washington, Proposition 1, Prohibit Encampments Near Childcare Facilities, Schools, and Parks Initiative (November 2023)

Spokane Proposition 1
Election date November 7, 2023
Topic Local housing and Local law enforcement
Status Overturned
Type Initiative

Spokane Proposition 1 was on the ballot as an initiative in Spokane on November 7, 2023.

The initiative was approved and later overturned by a 2025 state supreme court ruling.

A "yes" vote supported prohibiting encampments on any public property or within 1,000 feet from the perimeter of a park, childcare facility, or a public or private school.

A "no" vote opposed prohibiting encampments on any public property or within 1,000 feet from the perimeter of a park, childcare facility, or a public or private school.

Aftermath

Supreme Court ruling, 2025

A lawsuit filed by Jewels Helping Hands against initiative sponsor Brian Hansen alleged that the initiative was beyond the scope of the local initiative process, arguing that it was administrative rather than legislative.

Hansen argued that the initiative was legislative because it added a "new policy for the ... protection of places where children gather from the documented harms that are associated with encampments in ... Spokane" rather than administratively alter existing policy.

On April 15, 2025, the Washington Supreme Court ruled, "The scope of the local initiative power is more limited than the scope of the constitutional, statewide initiative power. As mentioned above, under our controlling precedent, a local initiative exceeds its proper scope if it covers a topic that is 'administrative' rather than 'legislative' in nature. The Hansen Initiative 'administer[s] the details' of Spokane’s preexisting policy approach to camping. For that reason, it falls on the administrative, rather than the legislative, side of the line. A local initiative that falls on the administrative side of the line exceeds the proper scope of the local initiative power."

Election results

Spokane Proposition 1
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		52,253	74.68%
No		17,715	25.32%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Measure design

The initiative was designed to prohibit encampments at all times, regardless of whether or not shelter space is available, in the following places:

• on any public property;
• on conservation lands and natural areas along the Spokane River, Latah Creek, and tributaries;
• at any place where camping may pose a danger to any person, an immediate threat or risk of arm to public health or safety, or a disruption to government services;
• within 1,000 feet from the perimeter of a park, childcare facility, or a public or private school;
• underneath or within 50 feet of a railroad viaduct in the Spokane Police Department's Downtown Precinct; and
• within three blocks of a congregate shelter as long as signs are posted stating that camping is prohibited.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 1 was as follows:

“

Shall the Spokane Municipal Code be amended to prohibit encampments within 1,000 feet of any public or private school, public park, playground, or licensed child care facility?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Clean & Safe Spokane sponsored the initiative.

Supporters

Individuals

• Larry Stone - Developer and owner of L.B. Stone Properties

Arguments

• Clean & Safe Spokane: "We are fighting for commonsense policies to protect our neighborhoods and ensure our community thrives. Our number one priority is addressing the safety of our children. Homeless encampments negatively affect our neighborhoods and businesses, but most importantly endanger the lives of our children. Our children deserve to feel safe and parents deserve to know that their kids are being protected. This is why we are taking the initiative to make sure any camping, such as what we saw at Camp Hope, will not occur within 1,000 feet of a school or public playground. The families in our community deserve better, and we are fighting to give them better."
• Initiative sponsor Brian Hansen: "While this initiative was not drafted solely with homeless encampments in mind, one only has to read the several sworn affidavits filed as part of the City’s nuisance litigation against the Department of Transportation to be concerned with the incredibly inappropriate and unacceptable things that children were exposed to in the area surrounding Camp Hope."

Opposition

Opponents

Officials

• Spokane City Council President Lori Kinnear (Nonpartisan)
• Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart (D)

Organizations

• Jewels Helping Hands

Arguments

• Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart and homeless advocacy group Jewels Helping Hands, filers of a lawsuit to remove the initiative from the ballot: "While the initiative’s sponsors are impatient for action on homelessness, as are we all, the Initiative could undermine the significant action that is already underway. For example, the city and its regional partners are working towards creating a regional homelessness authority, but such regional action would become impossible if the voters of any one jurisdiction could utilize the initiative process to undermine regional decision-making and cooperation."
• Spokane City Council President Lori Kinnear: "Our existing laws are more than adequate and defensible. I don’t think this law will be defensible."

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through an initiative petition sponsored by Spokane attorney Brian Hansen. On July 10, 2023, the Spokane County Elections Office found that of the 4,769 signatures submitted by proponents, 2,713 were valid. To qualify for the ballot, 2,624 valid signatures were required.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Washington

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Washington.

How to vote in Washington

Poll times

Washington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age.

One may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at a county elections department. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through Election Day.

In 2018, Washington lawmakers enacted legislation providing for same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration.

Automatic registration

Washington automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, health benefit exchange, and other state agencies approved by the governor.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Washington has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Washington allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Washington law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Washington does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who knowingly provides false information or knowingly make a false declaration about their qualifications "will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Vote WA, run by the Washington Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Washington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law RCW 29A.40.160, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.”

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.

• Driver's license
• State identification card
• Student identification card
• Tribal identification card
• Employer identification card

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local housing on the ballot

Washington

• Washington 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Washington
• Spokane County, Washington

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas