Legislative video testimony bill passes Senate

Published 12:38 pm Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Legislation passed unanimously by the Washington state Senate would expand options for people to provide legislative testimony remotely. SB 5267, authored and sponsored by Sen. Cyrus Habib, D-Kirkland, and supported by Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, would develop a system for Washingtonians to record video of themselves testifying using their phones, computers, webcams or any other video cameras and then upload the video to a legislative server where lawmakers could view the testimony.

“Most people are too busy with their day-to-day lives to come down and testify. They have jobs, school, family or a disability that might prevent them from appearing in Olympia. But that doesn’t mean their voice shouldn’t be heard,” said Habib. “Professional lobbyists are here at the legislature every day, ready to testify on bills in committee, but we represent our constituents and they should have an equal opportunity to be heard, even if they’re unable to appear in person.”

The proposed program would allow citizens to record testimony from any location at any time. Once the testimony is recorded and uploaded, the committee chair could show the testimony in a committee hearing or committee members could view it on their own at another time.

“In an era of YouTube and selfies, where anyone can post a video of anything at any time, why shouldn’t the same options be available for legislative testimony? We have the technology,” said Habib. “This will make it easier for people to engage in the legislative process and I look forward to this policy being put into law and receiving these videos from my constituents with their thoughts on the issues we’re working on. Today’s unanimous vote in the Senate sends a strong message that legislators of both parties and across the state agree with this open government approach to legislative testimony and I have every expectation that the House of Representatives will, too.”