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SB 5288

Concerning vacancies on boards of county commissioners.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Boehnke and 7 co-sponsors

The bill repeals statutory vacancy procedures for county boards, leaving the constitutional appointment process as the sole method to fill vacancies.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 5288

Summary: Senate Bill 5288 (SB 5288) — Vacancies on Boards of County Commissioners

Overview

SB 5288 repeals the statutory procedures for filling vacancies on county boards of commissioners, leaving the constitutional method as the sole process. The bill was introduced January 15, 2025, and became law with an effective date of July 27, 2025 (Chapter 133, Laws of 2025).

  • Status: Effective date 7/27/2025
  • Introduced: January 15, 2025
  • Sponsors: Sen. Schoesler; Sen. Boehnke; Sen. Dozier; Sen. Holy; Sen. Wilson, J.; Sen. Salomon; Sen. Warnick; Sen. Wagoner
  • Final passage: The bill was reported out of committee and subsequently passed both chambers; signed by the Governor on April 22, 2025

What the bill would do

  • Repeals the statutory vacancy-filling provisions for county boards of commissioners (specifically RCW 36.32.070 and RCW 36.32.0558).
  • Removes the two existing statutory processes (for 3-member and 5-member commissions) for filling vacancies.
  • Leaves the constitutional method in place as the sole mechanism for filling vacancies when they occur.

Background and context

  • Under the Washington Constitution, vacancies in partisan county elective offices are generally filled by appointment by the county legislative authority, from the same district and political party, drawn from nominees of the party’s county central committee. If the county commissioners cannot agree within 60 days, the Governor selects from the same nominees within 30 days.
  • The current statutory framework provides additional methods for filling vacancies depending on whether a county has a 3-member or 5-member board, and on the number of vacancies. SB 5288 repeals these statutory methods.

Key provisions and implications

  • Repealed provisions: RCW 36.32.070 (Vacancies on board) and RCW 36.32.0558 (Five-member commissions—Vacancies), including prior related amendments.
  • Resulting framework: After enactment, vacancies would be filled exclusively via the constitutional process:
    • Appointment by the county legislative authority from nominees of the party central committee, with identical-district and same-party requirements.
    • If no agreement within 60 days, the Governor selects from the same nominees within 30 days.
    • The appointed person serves the remainder of the term (subject to the constitutional term rules described in the constitutional section).

Affected entities

  • Counties with boards of county commissioners (both 3-member and 5-member configurations).
  • County legislative authorities, party central committees, and potentially the Governor (in the event of impasse).

Timing and process

  • Effective date: 90 days after adjournment of the 2025 legislative session (July 27, 2025).
  • Implementation: Counties will conform to the constitutional method for vacancies going forward; statutory fills are no longer available as a fallback mechanism.

Public testimony and reception

  • Support: Public testimony framed the bill as a cleanup measure to simplify and clarify vacancy procedures.
  • Opposition: None reported.

Legislative history snapshot

  • Reports and floor actions consistently describe the bill as repealing statutory vacancy provisions in favor of the constitutional method.
  • Final enactment credits: Governor signed on April 22, 2025 (Chapter 133, Laws of 2025).

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

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