Legislation has been signed into law that puts Washington State on the cutting edge of customer service and technology. 
With House Bill 2313, proposed by Secretary of State Sam Reed, Washington joins an elite group of states working to provide electronic filing services for their business customers.
 “We are pushing ahead to improve the business climate in Washington State,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed.
“We’re also providing consumers with more information than ever before.  This prepares them to make sound decisions whether they’re dealing with a corporation or donating to a charity.”      
 The bill will dramatically improve customer service for businesses in Washington State. 
It allows the Secretary of State to accept electronic filings from corporations and charities for the first time in history.   
 “In most cases, this legislation will cut what’s typically a week long process down to a virtually instantaneous transaction,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed. 
“Like the private sector, state government must continually work to improve customer service.  This legislation is a major step forward.”  
 Individuals, law firms, and professional service companies can conveniently file legally-required documents with the Secretary of State’s Office seven days a week from anywhere in the world. 
This new law will improve efficiency for the roughly 240,000 corporations and charities that are on file with the Secretary of State in Washington.  
Roughly 35,000 new businesses incorporate each year..
More than 250,000 file annual reports required by law.         
 Finally, the new legislation allows the Secretary of State’s Office to fine charities that fail to comply with the law by registering with the State.
 The Secretary of State’s Office plans to have the new legislation implemented by the fall of this year.