Bill allows tribal documents to be automatically admissible in court

SB 5083 passed the Senate unanimously. The bill, sponsored by Sen. John McCoy (D–Tulalip), adds tribal documents as self-authenticating admissible evidence in all courts of the state. Although tribal documents are admissible in court now, their authenticity must be proven to be admitted. The bill would automatically allow as admissible evidence:

• Records and proceedings of federally-recognized Indian tribes. As with other non-tribal records and proceedings automatically admissible into evidence, the tribal records must be certified by an officer in charge of the records and affixed with the court’s seal;
• Copies of all official tribal records and documents, if certified; and
• Printed copies of officially published tribal laws.

The bill received a public hearing and passed out of its policy committee unanimously.

SB 5083 now awaits a floor vote in the House.