Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee

HB 2210

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Billig, Carlyle, Lytton, Dahlquist, Asay, Fitzgibbon, Appleton, Warnick, Klippert, Hurst, Stanford, Kelley, Goodman, Ryu, Hudgins, Ormsby, Nealey, Hunt, Haigh, Hargrove, Finn, Tharinger, Santos, Moeller, Takko, Armstrong, McCoy, Jinkins, Probst, Van De Wege, Maxwell, Green, Sells, Reykdal, Ladenburg, Hasegawa, Pollet, Kenney and Kagi.

Background:

The Fair Campaign Practices Act was enacted following passage of Initiative 134 (I-134) in 1992. The initiative imposed campaign contribution limits, further regulated independent expenditures, restricted the use of public funds for political purposes, and required public officials to report gifts received in excess of $50. The contribution limits imposed by I-134 apply only to elections for statewide office and elections for state legislative office.

Contributions made by an individual, a union or business, or a political action committee are limited to an aggregate of $800 per election to a candidate for state legislative office or county office and an aggregate of $1,600 per election to a candidate for statewide office, port district office, and judicial office.

Campaign contribution limits are also imposed on political parties. State party central committees, minor party committees, and legislative caucus committees may contribute an aggregate of up to 80 cents per registered voter in the candidate's district for an election cycle. County central committees and legislative district committees may contribute an aggregate of up to 40 cents per registered voter in the candidate's district. County central committees and legislative district committees combined may not contribute to any one candidate an amount more than 40 cents times the number of registered voters statewide. These limits are adjusted for inflation by the Public Disclosure Commission every two years.

Summary of Bill:

School board offices are added to the list of public offices subject to campaign contribution limits. A contribution from an individual, union, business, or political action committee is limited to an aggregate of $800 per election to a candidate for a school board office.