Public Disclosure Commission - Current Law
RCW 42.17A
The Public Disclosure Commission — established by initiative of the people in 1972 — administers and enforces the laws pertaining to the disclosure of political campaign finances, lobbying, and the financial affairs of elected officials and candidates for public office. The commission also oversees contribution limits, allowable uses of campaign funds and the prohibition against use of public resources to assist campaigns. It has regulated more than $1 billion in campaign contributions and more than $600 million in state lobbying over the last decade.
Agency Mission
The Public Disclosure Commission promotes confidence in the political process by providing timely and meaningful access to information about the financing of political campaigns, lobbying expenditures and financial affairs of public officials and candidates and by ensuring equitable enforcement of Washington’s disclosure and campaign finance laws.
| Request | 15,010,000 |
|---|---|
| Net change from current biennium | 516,000 Increase |
| Percent change from current biennium | 3.6% Increase |
Operating Budget: Summary
Appropriated Funds
| 2023-25 Appropriations | Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Estimated Balance | 2021-23 Actual | 2023-25 Estimated | 2025-27 Proposed | |
| Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - Nonappropriated | 875 | ||||
| Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated | |||||
| 12,294,000 | General Fund - State | 10,564,859 | 12,294,000 | 12,267,000 | |
| 2,200,000 | Public Disclosure Transparency Acct - State | 49,084 | 2,200,000 | 2,743,000 | |
| Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State | |||||
| 14,494,000 | Total Appropriated Funds | 10,614,818 | 14,494,000 | 15,010,000 | |
Non-Appropriated Funds
Operating Budget: Program Summary
| Program Title | Actual | Estimated | Proposed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | Estimated | Estimated | Proposed | Proposed | |
| Annual Total | 5,269,383 | 5,759,788 | 2,573,349 | 7,582,000 | 7,428,000 |
Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent |
| (121,302) | (1.1%) | (2,281,680) | (21.5%) | 6,676,863 | 80.1% |
Employment Summary
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 Actual | 2023-24 Estimated | 2024-25 Estimated | 2025-26 Proposed | 2026-27 Proposed | |
| FTE Staff Years | 30.8 | 33.1 | 32.4 | 36.6 | 37.6 |
