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Bill

SB 5246

Concerning fiscal notes for supreme court decisions.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Noel Frame and 5 co-sponsors

Washington bill requiring fiscal impact analyses for state Supreme Court decisions to quantify their budgetary effects on government and local agencies.

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
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Bill Summary · SB 5246

Legislative bill overview

SB 5246 would require the Washington State legislature to prepare fiscal notes analyzing the financial impact of state Supreme Court decisions on the state budget and local governments. The bill seeks to document and quantify how court rulings affect governmental spending, revenue, or resource allocation across public agencies.

Why is this important

Supreme Court decisions can have substantial budgetary consequences—affecting everything from criminal justice spending to education funding—yet these costs are often not systematically documented or estimated before implementation. Creating a fiscal note requirement would provide lawmakers and the public with transparent cost data to understand the financial implications of major court decisions and inform legislative responses.

Potential points of contention

  • Judicial independence concerns: Critics may argue that requiring fiscal analysis of court decisions could be perceived as legislative pressure on the judiciary or an attempt to influence judicial decision-making through budgetary constraints
  • Practicality and timing: Preparing accurate fiscal notes for complex court decisions requires time and expertise; determining causation between a ruling and actual costs can be difficult and contested
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's exact parameters are unclear—which decisions trigger fiscal notes, who determines financial impact, and how to handle decisions with uncertain or long-term consequences remains undefined

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

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