WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 5537

Relating to the financial administration of the Secretary of State; and declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session

SB 5537 changes the State's financial management, boosts internal controls and fee handling, with an emergency clause effective July 24, 2025.

Effective date, July 24, 2025.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 5537

SB 5537 — Relating to the financial administration of the Secretary of State; and declaring an emergency

One‑sentence summary

SB 5537 directs changes to the financial administration of the Washington State Office of the Secretary of State and includes an emergency clause. The bill was enacted as Chapter 610, 2025 Laws, and became effective July 24, 2025.

What the bill’s title indicates (purpose)

  • The bill is intended to alter how the Secretary of State’s office manages its finances. This typically covers matters such as internal accounting, fund structure, fee collection and retention, expenditure authority, transfers between accounts, or related fiscal procedures.
  • The phrase “declaring an emergency” signals lawmakers intended some or all of the bill to take effect immediately or sooner than the standard delayed effective date; the enacted effective date is July 24, 2025.

What is known from the public record

  • Introduced: January 13, 2025.
  • Committee referrals: Referred to Ways and Means and the Subcommittee on General Government; informational meetings, public hearing (April 9, 2025), work sessions, and amendment activity occurred. A committee recommendation of “Do pass with amendments” was recorded (A‑Eng. version).
  • Floor action: Passed both chambers (third readings June 24 and June 16, 2025 in different houses), signatures by legislative leaders (President, Speaker) and Governor; chaptered as Chapter 610, 2025 Laws.
  • Governor signed: July 24, 2025. Effective date: July 24, 2025.

Likely impacts and who is affected

  • Directly affected: Office of the Secretary of State — its budgeting, internal financial controls, and administrative operations.
  • Indirectly affected: state budgeting and appropriations processes; state agencies that interact financially with the Secretary of State (e.g., for filing fees, registrations); local governments and businesses if the bill changes fees or fund distribution.
  • Fiscal impact: Not available in the supplied record. The Ways and Means referral and “Do pass with amendments” suggest fiscal implications were considered; the final engrossed bill (A‑Eng.) and any fiscal notes should be consulted for specifics.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill moved through committee, was amended (A‑Eng.), and passed legislative chambers in June 2025. The emergency clause and gubernatorial signature resulted in an effective date of July 24, 2025.
  • Because the bill was chaptered (Chapter 610), its final text and any fiscal notes are part of the 2025 Session Laws.

Where to find the full text and analysis

  • Consult the Washington State Legislature bill page for SB 5537 (2025) for bill text (A‑Eng. and final), committee reports, fiscal notes, and staff summaries.
  • See Chapter 610, 2025 Laws in the session laws or the Office of the Code Reviser for the enacted language.

Note: This summary is based on the bill title and legislative history provided. The precise statutory changes, dollar amounts, and detailed fiscal effects require review of the enacted bill text and accompanying fiscal note.

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

Sign in to ask a question.