HB 1783 - DIGEST

     Enacts this law directing the adoption of voluntary campaign spending limits for state election contests and inducements to encourage acceptance of these voluntary spending limits, as follows:  (1) The amount of any individual contribution to a candidate who voluntarily agrees to the spending limits is twice that applicable to a candidate who does not agree to the spending limits;

     (2) candidates' pamphlets must prominently indicate whether a candidate has, or has not, voluntarily agreed to the spending limits;

     (3) major political advertisements relating to a candidate must prominently disclose whether the candidate has or has not voluntarily agreed to the spending limitations; and

     (4) each candidate who voluntarily agrees to the spending limits, and who has an opposing candidate listed on the general election ballot, may give each individual who makes a contribution to his or her campaign a voucher of a value equal to the lesser of one-half of the contribution or twenty-five dollars that may be used by the individual to pay real property taxes, motor vehicle excise taxes, or tuition at a public institution of higher education in the state.

     Provides that, in order to encourage more responsible political advertising and to encourage less money being spent on campaigns, the following changes are made to encourage political advertising to be made by a candidate or the authorized committee of a candidate, in lieu of political committees making political advertisements relating to a candidate as independent expenditures:  (1) Enhanced recordkeeping and reporting requirements are established for such independent expenditures;

     (2) greater restrictions are established on late contributions made for such purposes; and

     (3) such ads are required to be filed with the commission at least five days before being distributed or aired.

     Provides that, in order to limit the amount of money flowing to political campaigns, campaign contributions by for-profit corporations may only be made from a separate fund made up of money solicited expressly for political purposes.

     Repeals RCW 42.17.128.