WSR 23-07-004
PERMANENT RULES
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION
[Filed March 1, 2023, 2:52 p.m., effective April 1, 2023]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: This rule making makes inflationary adjustments to the monetary limits and reporting values of the campaign finance category, based on the economic changes since the time of enactment, as reflected in the inflationary index recommended by the office of financial management. The adjusted values are rounded to be most accessible to the public.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 390-05-400 and 390-16-034.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 42.17A.110 and [42.17A.]125.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 23-01-125 on December 20, 2022.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Inflationary adjustment values are rounded to be most accessible for public understanding. Categories were added for volunteer expenses exempted from independent expenditures (RCW 42.17A.005(30)) and thresholds for sources of funding on contributions by political committees (RCW 42.17A.405(12)). The threshold for reporting a contributor's employer information was amended to clarify reporting of the employer's "location," and the threshold amount was adjusted to $250.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: February 23, 2023.
Sean Flynn
General Counsel
OTS-4258.5
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-14-030, filed 6/24/22, effective 6/30/22)
WAC 390-05-400Changes in dollar amounts.
Pursuant to the authority in RCW 42.17A.125 that the commission may revise the monetary contribution limits and reporting thresholds and code values of the act to reflect changes in economic conditions, the previous and current amounts are:
((Code Section
Subject Matter
Previous
Current
.005
Reporting threshold for "Independent Expenditure" for political advertising
$950
$1,000
.255
Reporting threshold for "Independent Expenditure" not otherwise reported
$100
$100
.265
Reporting threshold for late contributions (last minute contributions)
$1,000
$1,500
.445(3)
Reimbursement of candidate for loan to own campaign
$5,500
$6,000
.630(1)
Report—
 
Applicability of provisions to persons who made contributions
$19,000
$20,000
 
Persons who made independent expenditures
$950
$1,000
.405(2)
Contribution Limits—
 
Candidates for state leg. office
$950
$1,000
 
Candidates for county office
$950
$1,000
 
Candidates for other state office
$1,900
$2,000
 
Candidates for special purpose districts
$1,900
$2,000
 
Candidates for city council office
$950
$1,000
 
Candidates for mayoral office
$950
$1,000
 
Candidates for school board office
$950
$1,000
 
Candidates for hospital district
$950
$1,000
.405(3)
Contribution Limits—
 
State official up for recall or pol comm. supporting recall—
 
State Legislative Office
$950
$1,000
 
Other State Office
$1,900
$2,000
.405(4)
Contribution Limits—
 
Contributions made by political parties and caucus committees
 
State parties and caucus  committees
.95 per voter
$1.00 per registered voter
 
County and leg. district parties
.50 per voter
.50 per registered voter
 
Limit for all county and leg. district parties to a candidate
.50 per voter
.50 per registered voter
.405(5)
Contribution Limits—
 
Contributions made by pol. parties and caucus committees to state official up for recall or committee supporting recall
 
State parties and caucuses
.95 per voter
$1.00 per registered voter
 
County and leg. district parties
.50 per voter
.50 per registered voter
 
Limit for all county and leg. district parties to state official up for recall or pol. comm. supporting recall
.50 per voter
.50 per registered voter
.405(7)
Limits on contributions to political parties and caucus committees
 
 
 
To caucus committee
$950
$1,000
 
To political party
$5,000
$5,500
.410(1)
Candidates for judicial office
$1,900
$2,000
.475
Contribution must be made by written instrument
$95
$100
.710
Code values for statement of personal financial affairs - See WAC 390-24-301))
 
 
Code Section
Subject
Value Set in Statute
(year last changed)
Previous Adjusted Value in Rule
(last set in 2016)
Current Adjusted Value
(last set in 2023)
Campaign Finance Reporting
 
 
 
.005(15)
Limit for the value of volunteer services excluded from the definition of "Contribution"
$50
(1989)
n/a
$200
.005(21)
Reporting threshold for "Electioneering Communication"
$1,000
(2011)
n/a
$2,000
.005(30)
Reporting threshold for "Independent Expenditure"
$1,000
(2019)
n/a
$2,000
.005(30)
Limit for the value of volunteer campaign worker expenses exempted from threshold for "Independent Expenditure"
$250
(2018)
n/a
$350
.005(46)(a)
Maximum limit for qualification as a "Remediable Violation" where no contribution limit applies
$1,000
(2018)
n/a
$1,500
.110(8)
.135(7)
Limit on eligibility for reporting exceptions by small campaigns ("mini reporting" pursuant to WAC 390-16-105 et seq.)
$5,000
(2010)
n/a
$7,000
.207(1)(a)(i)
Incidental committee - Threshold of expenditures for registration
$25,000
(2018)
n/a
$35,000
.235(1)
Incidental committee - Threshold for reporting top 10 contributors
$10,000
(2018)
n/a
$15,000
.235(3)(b)
Incidental committee - Threshold for regular monthly reporting of contributions or expenditures
$200
(2018)
n/a
$500
.220(4)
Limit for retaining accumulated unidentified contributions
$300
(1973)
n/a
$500
.225(2)
Regular monthly campaign reports - Threshold for regular monthly reporting of contributions or expenditures - continuing PAC
$200
(1982)
n/a
$750
.235(3)(a)
Regular monthly campaign reports - Threshold for regular monthly reporting of contributions or expenditures - PAC
$200
(1982)
n/a
$750
.230(2)
Contributions fund-raising - Limit on amounts eligible for special reporting of fund-raising activities
$25 - event
$50 - auction
(1989)
n/a
$100 (event)
$150 (auction)
.230(4)
Contributions fund-raising - Threshold for reporting identity of contributions
$50
(1989)
n/a
$150
.235(5) &
.240(2)
Contributions - Threshold for required reporting identity of contributors
$25
(1982)
n/a
$100
.240(2)
Threshold for reporting pledges
$100
(2019)
n/a
$150
.240(7)
Threshold for reporting expenditure activity
$50
(1982)
n/a
$200
.240(9)
Threshold for reporting source of debt
$750
(2018)
n/a
$1,000
.250
Out-of-state PAC - Threshold for reporting contributions
$25 - In-state
(1983)
$2,550 - Out-of-state
(2010)
$2,680
(2016)
$100 (In-state)
$4,000 (Out-of-state)
.265
"Last-minute contribution" - Reporting threshold
$1,000
(2001)
n/a
$1,500
.255(1)
Independent expenditure ("not otherwise reported") - Threshold for including incidental volunteer expenses
$50
(1995)
n/a
$200
.255(2)
Independent expenditure ("not otherwise reported") - Threshold for reporting
$100
(1973)
n/a
$1,000
.255(5)
Independent expenditure ("not otherwise reported") - Threshold for itemized expenditures
$50
(1989)
n/a
$200
.260
Independent expenditure (political advertising) - Threshold for reporting
$1,000
(2001)
n/a
$2,000
.305
Independent expenditure (electioneering communication) - Threshold for detailed reporting of expenditure
$100
(2005)
n/a
$200
.630(1)
Applicability of provisions to persons who made contributions
$16,000
(2010)
$20,000
$20,000
*not adjusted in 2023
.630(1)
Persons who made independent expenditures
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,000
*not adjusted in 2023
Campaign Contribution Limits
 
 
 
.405(2)
Limits on contributions to candidates:
 
 
- Candidates for state legislative office
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- Candidates for county office
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- Candidates for other state office
$1,600
(2010)
$2,000
$2,400
 
- Candidates for special purpose districts
$1,600
(2010)
$2,000
$2,400
 
- Candidates for city council office
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- Candidates for mayoral office
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- Candidates for school board office
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- Candidates for hospital district
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
.410(1)
- Candidates for judicial office
$1,600
(2010)
$2,000
$2,400
.405(4)
State and local party and caucus committee limits on contributions to a candidate:
 
- State parties and caucus committee
$0.80 × per registered voter (2010)
$1.00 per registered voter
$1.20 per registered voter
 
- County and legislative district parties
$0.40 × per registered voter (2010)
$0.50 per registered voter
$0.60 per registered voter
 
- Limit on aggregate of all county and legislative district parties to a candidate
$0.40 × per registered voter (2010)
$0.50 per registered voter
$0.60 per registered voter
.405(7)
Limits to political parties and caucus committees:
 
- To caucus committee
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- To political party
$4,000
(2010)
$5,500
$6,000
.405(3)
Recall - Limits to state or local official or to PAC supporting recall:
 
- State legislative office and local office
$800
(2010)
$1,000
$1,200
 
- Other (nonlegislative) state office and port district
$1,600
(2010)
$2,000
$2,400
.405(5)
Recall - Limits for political parties and caucus committees to state or local officials or to PACs supporting recall:
 
- State parties and caucuses
$0.80 × per registered voter (2010)
$1.00 per registered voter
$1.20 per registered voter
 
- County and legislative district parties
$0.40 × per registered voter (2010)
$0.50 per registered voter
$0.60 per registered voter
 
- Limit for all county and legislative district parties to state official up for recall or political committee supporting recall
$0.40 × per registered voter (2010)
$0.50 per registered voter
$0.60 per registered voter
.405(12)
Threshold for contributions by political committees to be eligible to make a contribution
$10 (from 10 persons)
(1993)
n/a
$25 (from 10 persons)
.420
Limits on large contributions:
 
- Statewide office
$50,000 -
(2010)
n/a
$75,000
 
- Other (nonstatewide) office
$5,000 - other
(2010)
n/a
$7,500
.445(3)
Maximum limit for reimbursement of candidate loan to own campaign
$4,700
(2010)
$6,000
$7,500
.475
Contribution must be made by written instrument
$100
(2019)
n/a
$100
.600 - .640
Lobbying disclosure and restrictions - See WAC 390-20-150
.710
Code values for statement of personal financial affairs - See WAC 390-24-301
OTS-4394.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-24-074, filed 11/30/18, effective 12/31/18)
WAC 390-16-034Additional contribution reporting requirements.
Pursuant to RCW 42.17A.240, each report required under RCW 42.17A.235 shall disclose, in addition to the name and address of each person who has made one or more contributions in the aggregate amount of more than ((one hundred dollars))$250, their occupation, and the name and ((address))location (city and state) of their employer.