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SR 8674

Honoring the First Washington Territorial Legislature of 1854.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Andy Billig and 37 co-sponsors

A ceremonial Senate resolution honoring the 1854 First Washington Territorial Legislature and its supporting communities, with copies sent to local leaders.

Adopted.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SR 8674

Summary: Senate Resolution 8674 (SR 8674) — Honoring the First Washington Territorial Legislature of 1854

Purpose and intent

  • SR 8674 is a ceremonial Senate Resolution recognizing and honoring the First Washington Territorial Legislature of 1854 and the communities that supported its work.
  • It acknowledges the historical significance of the 1854 legislative session in establishing foundational governance structures for Washington Territory and expresses appreciation for both native and nonnative community contributions in Olympia.

Historical context (key background)

  • The Territory of Washington was created by an act of Congress and approved by President Millard Fillmore on March 2, 1853. A proclamation by Governor Isaac I. Stevens established the territorial government and designated Olympia as the temporary territorial capital.
  • The first territorial legislature convened on February 27, 1854, consisting of a nine-member Council and an 18-member House of Representatives. Because there was no capitol building, the assembly met on the second floor of the Parker & Colter store on Main Street (now Capitol Way) in Olympia.
  • The 1854 session was limited to 100 days but lasted 64 days, adjourning on May 1, 1854. Despite the short term, the assembly advanced several foundational policies and institutions, including:
    • Criminal and civil codes
    • A system of public education
    • Infrastructure projects (wharves and roads)
    • Marriage and divorce standards
    • Establishment of counties and county offices
    • Expansion of the House by four additional representatives
    • Adoption of a territorial seal

Provisions and substantive content

  • The resolution honors the First Territorial Assembly and the broader community support that enabled the government’s early work.
  • It explicitly recognizes the contributions of Olympia’s residents and surrounding communities, both native and nonnative.
  • The resolution directs immediate transmission of copies to:
    • The Honorable Dontae Payne, Mayor of Olympia
    • The Honorable Kris Peters, Chair, Squaxin Tribe
    • Mr. Greg Griffith, President, Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum

Parties affected or engaged

  • Primary: Washington State Senate and, by extension, the broader legislative and historical community.
  • Local stakeholders highlighted in the resolution: City of Olympia, the Squaxin Tribe, and the Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum.
  • The resolution acknowledges the ongoing importance of bipartisan and cross-community collaboration in the state’s early governance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction date: February 27, 2024
  • Status: Adopted on February 27, 2024
  • It is a commemorative resolution, not a bill intended to change statutes or policy; its effect is ceremonial recognition and historical acknowledgment.

Bottom-line takeaway

SR 8674 formally commemorates the 1854 First Washington Territorial Legislature, highlighting its achievements, the circumstances of its session, and the contribution of local communities, and it distributes copies of the proclamation to key community and tribal leaders.

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

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