Bill > HB1781

This bill modifies the enforcement procedures for the Public Disclosure Commission by adding several key provisions to ensure fairness and consistency in handling complaints. The bill requires that the commission and its executive director may not consider the partisan affiliation of a respondent when resolving compliance matters, and mandates the development of an objective scoring system for determining when complaints can be dismissed or penalties waived. The bill introduces new requirements that penalties for non-remediable violations cannot be waived without unanimous commission approval, and that the commission must consistently apply its penalty waiver authority. Additionally, the bill requires the executive director to use a commission-developed scoring system when resolving matters involving technical corrections or remediable violations. The proposed changes apply to two different sections of Washington state law (RCW 42.17A.755 and RCW 29B.60.020), and include provisions that Section 1 of the bill will expire on January 1, 2026, while Section 2 will take effect on the same date, indicating these are temporary modifications to the existing legal framework for the Public Disclosure Commission's enforcement actions.

Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1781&Year=2025&Initiative=false