Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 42.17A - Campaign Disclosure and Contribution.
42.17A.610 - Exemption from registration and reporting.

RCW 42.17A.610
Exemption from registration and reporting.

The following persons and activities are exempt from registration and reporting under RCW 42.17A.600, 42.17A.615, and 42.17A.640:
(1) Persons who limit their lobbying activities to appearing before public sessions of committees of the legislature, or public hearings of state agencies;
(2) Activities by lobbyists or other persons whose participation has been solicited by an agency under RCW 34.05.310(2);
(3) News or feature reporting activities and editorial comment by working members of the press, radio, digital media, or television and the publication or dissemination thereof by a newspaper, book publisher, regularly published periodical, radio station, digital platform, or television station;
(4) Persons who lobby without compensation or other consideration for acting as a lobbyist, if the person makes no expenditure for or on behalf of any member of the legislature or elected official or public officer or employee of the state of Washington in connection with such lobbying. The exemption contained in this subsection is intended to permit and encourage citizens of this state to lobby any legislator, public official, or state agency without incurring any registration or reporting obligation provided they do not exceed the limits stated above. Any person exempt under this subsection (4) may at the person's option register and report under this chapter;
(5) Persons who restrict their lobbying activities to no more than four days or parts of four days during any three-month period and whose total expenditures during such three-month period for or on behalf of any one or more members of the legislature or state elected officials or public officers or employees of the state of Washington in connection with such lobbying do not exceed *twenty-five dollars. The commission shall adopt rules to require disclosure by persons exempt under this subsection or their employers or entities which sponsor or coordinate the lobbying activities of such persons if it determines that such regulations are necessary to prevent frustration of the purposes of this chapter. Any person exempt under this subsection (5) may at the person's option register and report under this chapter;
(6) The governor;
(7) The lieutenant governor;
(8) Except as provided by RCW 42.17A.635(1), members of the legislature;
(9) Except as provided by RCW 42.17A.635(1), persons employed by the legislature for the purpose of aiding in the preparation or enactment of legislation or the performance of legislative duties;
(10) Elected officials, and officers and employees of any agency reporting under RCW 42.17A.635(5).

[ 2019 c 428 § 31; 2010 c 204 § 803; 1998 c 55 § 3; 1995 c 397 § 32; 1982 c 147 § 12; 1977 ex.s. c 313 § 4; 1975 1st ex.s. c 294 § 9; 1973 c 1 § 16 (Initiative Measure No. 276, approved November 7, 1972). Formerly RCW 42.17.160.]
NOTES:

*Reviser's note: The dollar amounts in this section may have been adjusted for inflation by rule of the commission adopted under the authority of RCW 42.17A.125. For current dollar amounts, see WAC 390-20-150.


Effective date—Finding—Intent—2019 c 428: See notes following RCW 42.17A.160.


Effective date—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 313: See notes following RCW 42.17A.005.

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 42 - Public Officers and Agencies

Chapter 42.17A - Campaign Disclosure and Contribution.

42.17A.001 - Declaration of policy.

42.17A.005 - Definitions.

42.17A.010 - Conservation district exception.

42.17A.020 - Statements and reports public records.

42.17A.055 - Electronic filing—Availability.

42.17A.060 - Access to reports—Legislative intent.

42.17A.065 - Access performance measures.

42.17A.100 - Public disclosure commission—Established—Commissioners—Prohibited activities—Compensation, travel expenses.

42.17A.105 - Commission—Duties.

42.17A.110 - Commission—Additional powers.

42.17A.120 - Suspension or modification of reporting requirements.

42.17A.125 - Revising monetary contribution limits, reporting thresholds, and code values.

42.17A.130 - Duties of attorney general.

42.17A.135 - Application of reporting requirements in small political subdivisions.

42.17A.140 - Date of receipt—Exceptions—Electronic filings.

42.17A.145 - Certification of reports.

42.17A.150 - Duty to preserve statements and reports.

42.17A.160 - Subpoenas.

42.17A.200 - Application of chapter—Exceptions.

42.17A.205 - Statement of organization by political committees.

42.17A.207 - Statement of organization by incidental committees.

42.17A.210 - Treasurer.

42.17A.215 - Depositories.

42.17A.220 - Deposit of contributions—Investment—Unidentified contributions.

42.17A.225 - Filing and reporting by continuing political committee.

42.17A.230 - Fund-raising activities—Alternative reporting method.

42.17A.235 - Reporting of contributions and expenditures—Public inspection of accounts.

42.17A.240 - Contents of report.

42.17A.250 - Out-of-state political committees—Reports.

42.17A.255 - Special reports—Independent expenditures.

42.17A.260 - Special reports—Political advertising.

42.17A.265 - Special reports—Late contributions or large totals—Certain late contributions prohibited.

42.17A.270 - Earmarked contributions.

42.17A.300 - Findings—Intent—Rule-making authority.

42.17A.305 - Report—Information required—Time—Method—By whom—Penalty.

42.17A.310 - When a contribution.

42.17A.315 - Recordkeeping.

42.17A.320 - Identification of sponsor—Exemptions.

42.17A.330 - Picture of candidate.

42.17A.335 - Political advertising or electioneering communication—Libel or defamation per se.

42.17A.340 - Responsibility for compliance.

42.17A.345 - Commercial advertisers—Public inspection of documents—Copies to commission.

42.17A.350 - Top five contributors to political advertisement.

42.17A.400 - Findings—Intent.

42.17A.405 - Limits specified—Exemptions.

42.17A.410 - Candidates for judicial office—Special elections to fill vacancies—Contribution limits—Adjustments.

42.17A.415 - Contributions.

42.17A.417 - Foreign nationals—Contributions, expenditures, and electioneering prohibited.

42.17A.418 - Foreign nationals—Contribution certification.

42.17A.420 - Reportable contributions—Preelection limitations.

42.17A.425 - Expenditures—Authorization of and restrictions on.

42.17A.430 - Disposal of surplus funds.

42.17A.435 - Identification of contributions and communications.

42.17A.440 - Candidates' political committees—Limitations.

42.17A.442 - Contributions by political committees to political committees.

42.17A.445 - Personal use of contributions—When permitted.

42.17A.450 - Attribution and aggregation of family contributions.

42.17A.455 - Attribution of contributions by controlled entities.

42.17A.460 - Attribution of contributions generally—"Earmarking."

42.17A.465 - Restriction on loans.

42.17A.470 - Contributions on behalf of another.

42.17A.475 - Certain contributions required to be by written instrument.

42.17A.480 - Solicitation of endorsement fees.

42.17A.485 - Reimbursement for contributions.

42.17A.490 - Prohibition on use of contributions for a different office.

42.17A.495 - Limitations on employers or labor organizations.

42.17A.500 - Agency shop fees as contributions.

42.17A.550 - Use of public funds for political purposes.

42.17A.555 - Use of public office or agency facilities in campaigns—Prohibition—Exceptions.

42.17A.560 - Time limit for state official to solicit or accept contributions.

42.17A.565 - Solicitation of contributions by public officials or employees.

42.17A.570 - Public accounts of governmental entities held by financial institutions—Statements and reports—Contents—Filing.

42.17A.575 - Public service announcements.

42.17A.600 - Registration of lobbyists.

42.17A.603 - Code of conduct—Verification—Penalty.

42.17A.605 - Photograph and information—Publication.

42.17A.610 - Exemption from registration and reporting.

42.17A.615 - Reporting by lobbyists—Rules.

42.17A.620 - Notification to person named in report.

42.17A.625 - Special reports—Lobbyists—Late contributions or large totals.

42.17A.630 - Reports by employers of registered lobbyists, other persons.

42.17A.635 - Legislative activities of state agencies, other units of government, elective officials, employees.

42.17A.640 - Grass roots lobbying campaigns.

42.17A.645 - Employment of legislators, board or commission members, or state employees—Statement, contents.

42.17A.650 - Employment of unregistered persons.

42.17A.655 - Lobbyists' duties, restrictions—Penalties for violations.

42.17A.700 - Elected officials, executive state officers, candidates, and appointees—Statement of financial affairs.

42.17A.705 - "Executive state officer" defined.

42.17A.710 - Statement of financial affairs—Contents.

42.17A.715 - Concealing identity of source of payment prohibited—Exception.

42.17A.750 - Civil remedies and sanctions—Referral for criminal prosecution.

42.17A.755 - Violations—Determination by commission—Penalties—Procedure.

42.17A.760 - Procedure upon petition for enforcement of order of commission—Court's order of enforcement.

42.17A.765 - Enforcement—Attorney general.

42.17A.770 - Limitation on actions.

42.17A.775 - Citizen's action.

42.17A.780 - Damages, costs, and attorneys' fees—Joint and several liability.

42.17A.785 - Public disclosure transparency account.

42.17A.900 - Effective date—1973 c 1.

42.17A.904 - Construction—1973 c 1.

42.17A.905 - Chapter, section headings not part of law.

42.17A.906 - Repealer—1973 c 1.

42.17A.907 - Construction—1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 112.

42.17A.908 - Captions.

42.17A.909 - Short title—1993 c 2.

42.17A.910 - Effective date—1995 c 397.

42.17A.911 - Captions—1995 c 397.

42.17A.915 - Effective dates—2005 c 445.

42.17A.917 - Effective date—2010 c 204 §§ 505, 602, and 703.

42.17A.918 - Effective date—2010 c 204.

42.17A.919 - Effective date—2011 c 60.

42.17A.920 - Local regulations not preempted—2020 c 152.