FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2499

C 226 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Expanding disclosure of political advertising to include advertising supporting or opposing ballot measures.

Sponsors: Representatives Billig, Finn, Hunt, Appleton, Hasegawa, Reykdal, Liias, Ormsby, Sells, Jinkins, Fitzgibbon, Kagi, Miloscia, Kelley, Hudgins, Roberts and Pollet.

House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections

Background:

All written political advertising must include the sponsor's name and address. Political advertising that is broadcast must include the sponsor's name. Political advertising undertaken as an independent expenditure by a person or entity other than a party organization and all electioneering communications must include a statement indicating that the advertisement is not authorized by any candidate, as well as information on who paid for the advertisement. If an advertisement is an independent expenditure or electioneering communication sponsored by a political committee, the top five contributors must be listed. If the sponsor of the advertisement is a political committee established, maintained, or controlled directly, or indirectly through the formation of one or more political committees, by an individual, corporation, union, association, or other entity, the full name of that individual or entity also must be listed in the advertisement.

Independent expenditures pertain to advertisements made in support of, or opposition to, a candidate. Electioneering communications are advertisements that clearly identify a candidate by either specifically naming the candidate or identifying the candidate without using his or her name.

A political committee means any person, except a candidate or an individual dealing with his or her own funds or property, having the expectation of receiving contributions or making expenditures in support of, or opposition to, any candidate or any ballot proposition.

Summary:

Political advertising costing $1,000 or more that supports or opposes a ballot measure and is sponsored by a political committee must include a listing of the names of the five persons or entities making the largest contributions in excess of $700 during the 12-month period before the date the advertisement is initially published or presented to the public.

Votes on Final Passage: