The bill is a memorial from the Washington State Legislature urging Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution aimed at reforming campaign finance laws. It highlights concerns over the increasing influence of large financial contributions, particularly those made anonymously or through entities separate from candidates, which threaten the integrity of elections and dilute the voices of individual voters. The memorial calls for Congress to reclaim the authority to regulate campaign contributions, differentiate between individuals and artificial entities in terms of political spending, and mandate timely public disclosure of all contributions.
Key provisions of the proposed amendment include the assertion that rights recognized in the Constitution are exclusive to individual human beings, the clarification that spending money cannot be equated with free speech under the First Amendment, and the requirement for all political contributions and expenditures to be disclosed in an accessible manner before elections. Additionally, the amendment would not restrict the rights of individuals to free speech, press, religion, or association. The memorial concludes with a request for copies to be sent to various congressional leaders and representatives.