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Bill

HB 1012

Authorizing the women's commission to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by April Berg and 18 co-sponsors

Washington authorizes its women's commission to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public and private sources to fund operations and expand capacity beyond state appropriations.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · HB 1012

Legislative bill overview

HB 1012 authorizes Washington's women's commission to actively solicit and accept gifts, grants, and endowments from both public and private sources to support its operations and initiatives. This expands the commission's previous authority by explicitly enabling fundraising activities that were not previously permitted or clearly defined in statute.

Why is this important

This allows the women's commission to diversify its funding beyond state appropriations, potentially expanding its capacity to fund programs, research, and advocacy work without relying solely on legislative budget allocations. It reflects a policy approach of enabling state agencies to pursue alternative revenue streams during periods of fiscal constraints or competing budget priorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Donor influence concerns: Private donations to a state commission could create appearance of conflicts of interest or undue influence from special interests over the commission's priorities and work
  • Accountability questions: Soliciting private funds raises questions about how donations are disclosed, managed, and whether they create obligations to donors that might conflict with the commission's public mission
  • Equity in resource allocation: Reliance on private fundraising could create disparities in which initiatives receive support based on donor preferences rather than public need

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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