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Washington Changes to Eminent Domain Initiative (2023)
| Washington Changes to Eminent Domain Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 7, 2023 | |
| Topic Eminent domain | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
The Washington Changes to Eminent Domain Initiative was not on the ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature, a type of indirect initiated state statute, on November 7, 2023.
This initiative was designed to prohibit the legislature from using eminent domain (except for projects adding one lane to existing roads) unless giving notifications, community engagement, and funding plan for impacted services and infrastructure, or obtaining voter approval. Under the initiative, a parcel’s fair market value would have been calculated using the highest appraisal prior to the acquisition date plus $100,000.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for the initiative is below:[1]
| “ | Initiative Measure No. 1585 concerns legislative physical changes and projects necessitating eminent domain.
This measure would prohibit the legislature from making certain physical changes necessitating eminent domain without certain notifications and planning; change fair market value calculation of impacted properties; and expand property eligibility for compensation. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ] [2] |
” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for the initiative is below:[1]
| “ | This measure would prohibit the legislature from making physical changes necessitating use of eminent domain, except projects adding one lane to existing roads, without certain notifications, community engagement, and a plan identifying funding for impacted services and infrastructure; or public vote. A parcel’s fair market value would be calculated using the highest appraisal from any time before the acquisition date plus $100,000. Parcel owners within a 10-mile radius would be entitled to condemnation and compensation. | ” |
Full text
The full text is available here.
Path to the ballot
The state process
In Washington, the number of signatures required to qualify an indirectly initiated state statute—called an Initiative to the Legislature in Washington—for the ballot is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast for the office of governor at the last regular gubernatorial election. Initial filings for indirect initiatives cannot be made more than 10 months before the regular session at which their proposal would be presented to lawmakers. Signatures must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the legislative session in the year of the targeted election.
The requirements to get an Initiative to the Legislature certified for the 2023 ballot:
- Signatures: 324,516 valid signatures
- Deadline: December 30, 2022
The secretary of state verifies the signatures using a random sample method. If the sample indicates that the measure has sufficient signatures, the measure is certified to appear before the legislature. If the legislature does not approve the measure, it is certified to appear on the ballot. However, if the sample indicates that the measure has insufficient signatures, every signature is checked. Under Washington law, a random sample result may not invalidate a petition.
Details about this initiative
- Anneliese Feld filed the initiative on October 19, 2022.[1]
- Signatures for the initiative were not submitted before the deadline.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Washington Olympia (capital) |
|---|---|
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