RCW 29B.45.010
Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns
—
Prohibition
—
Exceptions.
(Effective January 1, 2026.)
No elective official nor any employee of his or her office nor any person appointed to or employed by any public office or agency may use or authorize the use of any of the facilities of a public office or agency, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition. Facilities of a public office or agency include, but are not limited to, use of stationery, postage, machines, and equipment, use of employees of the office or agency during working hours, vehicles, office space, publications of the office or agency, and clientele lists of persons served by the office or agency. However, this does not apply to the following activities:
(1) Action taken at an open public meeting by members of an elected legislative body or by an elected board, council, or commission of a special purpose district including, but not limited to, fire districts, public hospital districts, library districts, park districts, port districts, public utility districts, school districts, sewer districts, and water districts, to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot proposition so long as (a) any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members of the legislative body, members of the board, council, or commission of the special purpose district, or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view;
(2) A statement by an elected official in support of or in opposition to any ballot proposition at an open press conference or in response to a specific inquiry;
(3) Activities which are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency;
(4) This section does not apply to any person who is a state officer or state employee as defined in RCW 42.52.010
.
[
2024 c 164 s 468
;
2010 c 204 s 701
;
2006 c 215 s 2
;
1979 ex.s. c 265 s 2
; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112 s 6;
1973 c 1 s 13
(Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17A.555, 42.17.130
.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
Construction
—
Rules remain valid
—
Effective date
—
2024 c 164:
See notes following RCW 29B.10.010
.
Effective date
—
2010 c 204 ss 101-504, 506-601, 603-702, and 801-1103:
See note following RCW 29B.15.010
.
Finding
—
Intent
—
2006 c 215:
"(1) The legislature finds that the public benefits from an open and inclusive discussion of proposed ballot measures by local elected leaders, and that for twenty-five years these discussions have included the opportunity for elected boards, councils, and commissions of special purpose districts to vote in open public meetings in order to express their support of, or opposition to, ballot propositions affecting their jurisdictions.
(2) The legislature intends to affirm and clarify the state's long-standing policy of promoting informed public discussion and understanding of ballot propositions by allowing elected boards, councils, and commissions of special purpose districts to adopt resolutions supporting or opposing ballot propositions." [
2006 c 215 s 1
.]
Disposition of violations before January 1, 1995:
"Any violations occurring prior to January 1, 1995, of any of the following laws shall be disposed of as if chapter 154, Laws of 1994 were not enacted and such laws continued in full force and effect: RCW 42.17.130, chapter
42.18
RCW, chapter
42.21
RCW, and chapter
42.22
RCW." [
1994 c 154 s 226
.]
Construction
—
1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112:
See note following RCW 29B.60.020
.
Effective date
—
Construction
—
1973 c 1:
See notes following RCW 29B.05.010
.
RCW 29B.45.020
Time limit for state official to solicit or accept contributions.
(Effective January 1, 2026.)
(1) During the period beginning on the thirtieth day before the date a regular legislative session convenes and continuing through the date of final adjournment, and during the period beginning on the date a special legislative session convenes and continuing through the date that session adjourns, no state official or a person employed by or acting on behalf of a state official or state legislator may solicit or accept contributions to a public office fund, to a candidate or authorized committee, or to retire a campaign debt. Contributions received through the mail after the thirtieth day before a regular legislative session may be accepted if the contribution is postmarked prior to the thirtieth day before the session.
(2) This section does not apply to activities authorized in RCW 43.07.370
.
[
2024 c 164 s 469
. Prior:
2006 c 348 s 5
;
2006 c 344 s 31
;
2003 c 164 s 3
;
1993 c 2 s 11
(Initiative Measure No. 134, approved November 3, 1992). Formerly RCW 42.17A.560, 42.17.710
.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
Construction
—
Rules remain valid
—
Effective date
—
2024 c 164:
See notes following RCW 29B.10.010
.
Effective date
—
2006 c 344 ss 1-16 and 18-40:
See note following RCW 29A.04.311
.
Short title
—
1993 c 2:
See note following RCW 29B.40.010
.
RCW 29B.45.030
Solicitation of contributions by public officials or employees.
(Effective January 1, 2026.)
(1) No state or local official or state or local official's agent may knowingly solicit, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a candidate for public office, political party, or political committee from an employee in the state or local official's agency.
(2) No state or local official or public employee may provide an advantage or disadvantage to an employee or applicant for employment in the classified civil service concerning the applicant's or employee's:
(a) Employment;
(b) Conditions of employment; or
(c) Application for employment,
based on the employee's or applicant's contribution or promise to contribute or failure to make a contribution or contribute to a political party or political committee.
[
2024 c 164 s 470
;
1995 c 397 s 24
;
1993 c 2 s 15
(Initiative Measure No. 134, approved November 3, 1992). Formerly RCW 42.17A.565, 42.17.750
.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
Construction
—
Rules remain valid
—
Effective date
—
2024 c 164:
See notes following RCW 29B.10.010
.
Effective date
—
1995 c 397:
See note following RCW 29B.40.020
.
Short title
—
1993 c 2:
See note following RCW 29B.40.010
.
RCW 29B.45.040
Public accounts of governmental entities held by financial institutions
—
Statements and reports
—
Contents
—
Filing.
(Effective January 1, 2026.)
After January 1st and before April 15th of each calendar year, the state treasurer, each county, public utility district, and port district treasurer, and each treasurer of an incorporated city or town whose population exceeds 1,000 shall file with the commission:
(1) A statement under oath that no public funds under that treasurer's control were invested in any institution where the treasurer or, in the case of a county, a member of the county finance committee, held during the reporting period an office, directorship, partnership interest, or ownership interest; or
(2) A report disclosing for the previous calendar year: (a) The name and address of each financial institution in which the treasurer or, in the case of a county, a member of the county finance committee, held during the reporting period an office, directorship, partnership interest, or ownership interest which holds or has held during the reporting period public accounts of the governmental entity for which the treasurer is responsible; (b) the aggregate sum of time and demand deposits held in each such financial institution on December 31; and (c) the highest balance held at any time during such reporting period. The state treasurer shall disclose the highest balance information only upon a public records request under chapter
42.56
RCW. The statement or report required by this section shall be filed either with the statement required under RCW 29B.55.010
or separately.
[
2024 c 164 s 471
;
2010 c 204 s 702
;
2005 c 274 s 282
;
1983 c 213 s 1
;
1981 c 102 s 1
; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112 s 10. Formerly RCW 42.17A.570, 42.17.245
.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
Construction
—
Rules remain valid
—
Effective date
—
2024 c 164:
See notes following RCW 29B.10.010
.
Effective date
—
2010 c 204 ss 101-504, 506-601, 603-702, and 801-1103:
See note following RCW 29B.15.010
.
Construction
—
1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112:
See note following RCW 29B.60.020
.
RCW 29B.45.050
Public service announcements.
(Effective January 1, 2026.)
No state elected official or municipal officer may speak or appear in a public service announcement that is broadcast, shown, or distributed in any form whatsoever during the period beginning January 1st and continuing through the general election if that official or officer is a candidate. If the official or officer does not control the broadcast, showing, or distribution of a public service announcement in which he or she speaks or appears, then the official or officer shall contractually limit the use of the public service announcement to be consistent with this section prior to participating in the public service announcement. This section does not apply to public service announcements that are part of the regular duties of the office that only mention or visually display the office or office seal or logo and do not mention or visually display the name of the official or officer in the announcement.
[
2024 c 164 s 472
;
2010 c 204 s 703
. Formerly RCW 42.17A.575
.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
Construction
—
Rules remain valid
—
Effective date
—
2024 c 164:
See notes following RCW 29B.10.010
.
Effective date
—
2010 c 204 ss 505, 602, and 703:
See note following RCW 29B.30.050
.