It was enacted in the aftermath of a lawsuit against the city of Yakima under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On February 27, 2018, it passed the Washington House of Representatives as amended by a vote of 52 in favor and 46 against.

The amended bill was then agreed to by the Washington State Senate by a vote of 29 in favor and 20 against.

On April 5, 2023, the bill passed the Washington State Senate by a vote of 27 in favor and 21 against.

It was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on April 13, 2023, and went into effect on January 1, 2024.