Concerning architectural and engineering fee funding assistance limits for school district construction and modernization projects.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Schoesler

Recodifies campaign finance and disclosure law into new RCW Title 29B as a technical reorganization without changing policy substance.

Prefiled for introduction.

Purpose / Intent

SB 5857 recodifies Washington’s campaign finance and disclosure statutes into a new title of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). The bill is explicitly framed as a technical reorganization: it moves existing law into a new statutory location, corrects internal references, and adds organizational and definitional language without changing policy substance. The bill includes an express intent that changes be interpreted as technical only and that existing rules adopted under the prior chapter remain valid.

Key provisions

Creates a new RCW title (Title 29B) to house campaign finance and disclosure law currently codified in chapter 42.17A RCW.

Inserts an intent section stating the act is technical and not substantive.

Provides that rules adopted under chapter 42.17A RCW (as recodified) remain valid and are not affected by the recodification.

Recodifies numerous existing sections (many RCW citations enumerated in the engrossed bill) into the new title and corrects internal cross‑references.

Adds/organizes definitional provisions (examples include definitions for “actual malice,” “agency,” “authorized committee,” “ballot proposition,” “benefit,” “commercial advertiser,” “commission,” “contribution,” “candidate,” and several committee types).

A technical amendment corrected an internal reference relating to recordkeeping for a candidate’s lost earnings.

Who is affected

Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) — enforcement, rule administration, and internal references in agency materials.

Candidates, authorized committees, continuing and incidental political committees, and caucus committees — statutory citations will change, but substantive obligations remain.

Commercial advertisers and other persons who engage in political advertising or electioneering communications.

State and local agencies referenced in campaign finance law.

Attorneys, compliance officers, elections officials, and members of the public who consult or cite the statute — they will need to use the new RCW citations.

Fiscal / implementation considerations

Supporters describe the bill as organizational and helpful for public clarity.

Opponents and the fiscal note (testimony) indicated potential implementation costs for the PDC; testimony cited a fiscal impact on the PDC of about $250,000 over three years to cover implementation and related updates.

No direct programmatic or substantive changes to reporting, contribution limits, or enforcement authority are enacted by this bill.

Legislative and effective dates

Prefiled: 12/18/2023. Passed Senate and House unanimously (Senate 49-0; House 95-0). Governor signed: 3/18/2024 (Chapter 164, 2024 Laws).

Effective date (recodification takes effect): January 1, 2026.

Stakeholders should prepare to update statutory citations and internal references ahead of the effective date.

Bill