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SR 8617

Celebrating Black History Month.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Hasegawa and 2 co-sponsors

Washington State Senate acknowledges and honors Black Americans’ contributions, centering Black history this February and reinforcing commitment to equity.

Adopted.
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Bill Summary · SR 8617

Summary: Senate Resolution 8617 (SR 8617)

Overview

  • Type: State Senate Resolution (ceremonial, non-binding)
  • Subject: Celebrating Black History Month
  • Status: Adopted
  • Introduced: February 20, 2025
  • Adopted: February 20, 2025
  • Authors: Senators Lovick, Hasegawa, and Muzzall
  • Outcome: Acknowledges and honors the contributions of Black Americans, with emphasis on Washington state and the broader history of Black achievement

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution expresses the Washington State Senate’s celebration of Black History Month and recognition of Black Americans’ innumerable contributions to the lives of Washingtonians.
  • It aims to center Black voices, history, and achievements in February 2025, aligning with the national observance.
  • It affirms a commitment to acknowledge representation and to reflect on the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

Key Provisions

  • Recognizes the founding of the Study of Negro Life and History by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland, highlighting their efforts to promote Black achievements during a period of neglect in historical textbooks.
  • Highlights long-standing struggles against slavery, Jim Crow, and segregation, noting ongoing injustice faced by Black Americans.
  • Identifies the 2025 Black History Month theme: “African Americans and Labor,” emphasizing Black Americans’ contributions to the workforce and labor movement.
  • Cites notable historical milestones and figures:
    • Martha Jones: first Black woman to receive a patent (Corn Husker, Sheller improvement, 1868)
    • William Owen Bush: first Black American in the Washington Territorial Legislature (1889)
    • Charles Stokes and Marjorie Pitter King: first Black members of the Washington legislature after statehood
    • Shirley Chisholm: first Black woman elected to Congress (1968) and first major-party Black woman presidential candidate (1972)
    • Quotation from Maurice N. Corbett on enduring adversity and Black self-determination
  • Articulates that Black individuals are integral to all aspects of society and that activism has worked to move toward a more equal world.
  • States a commitment to center Black people in the state’s discourse, beliefs, and conversations during February 2025.
  • Formal declaration: The Senate “celebrates Black History Month and recognizes the innumerable contributions of Black Americans to the lives of Washingtonians.”

Who/What Is Affected

  • Primarily a ceremonial acknowledgment by the Washington State Senate.
  • Aims to inform and influence educators, policymakers, and the public about Black history and contributions within Washington state and the nation.
  • No new programs, funding, or regulatory requirements are created by the resolution.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced and adopted on February 20, 2025.
  • Final action: Adoption by the Senate; certified by the Secretary of the Senate (Sarah Bannister) as an official copy.
  • Since a resolution, it generally does not have fiscal implications or enforceable mandates.

Impact and Takeaways

  • Provides formal recognition and educational emphasis for Black History Month in Washington.
  • Encourages reflection on historical achievements and ongoing efforts toward equity.
  • Serves as a formal statement of values and a ceremonial acknowledgment rather than a change in law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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