Protecting the integrity of the state initiative and referendum process by requiring a demonstration of support before issuance of a ballot title

This bill strengthens enforcement of Washington’s existing ban on paying initiative signature gatherers based on volume, a practice already illegal under state law. It requires sponsors to collect 1,000 voter signatures before receiving a ballot title to show basic public support and allows citizen enforcement with civil penalties up to $10,000. The bill aims to reduce fraudulent signatures, repeated filings meant to reach a favorable judge, and ballot title manipulation by testing multiple titles to see which voters prefer.