Tim Eyman, a leading proponent of the initiative process in Washington state, has this commentary, rejoicing that SB 5297 and HB 1668 failed to pass in Washington state this year. The bills, as originally written, required signature-gathering businesses to register with the Secretary of State, and allowed the businesses to be prosecuted if any of their employees committed an act of fraud.

As the bill passed various committees in the State Senate, it was amended to bar petitioners from being within 15 feet of a store entrance or exit without the property owner’s permission (Washington is one of the few states in which the State Supreme Court has ruled that shopping centers must permit petitioning on shopping center property). Also the bill was amended to require that paid circulators must print their name, address, and employer on each petition sheet, whereas volunteer petitions did not need to do this, nor did circulators who were employed by a union.