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Bill

HB 2352

Holding state officers and state employees to the same conflict of interest standard that is required of municipal officers.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Adam Bernbaum and 9 co-sponsors

HB 2352 applies municipal conflict-of-interest standards to state officers and employees, creating uniform ethical requirements across Washington government levels.

Referred to Rules 2 Review.
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Bill Summary · HB 2352

Legislative bill overview

HB 2352 would extend conflict of interest standards currently applied to municipal (city/county) officers to state-level officers and employees. This creates uniform ethical requirements across different levels of Washington government rather than maintaining separate standards.

Why is this important

Conflict of interest rules prevent officials from using their positions for personal financial gain and are foundational to public trust. Inconsistent standards between state and local government create confusion and potential ethical gaps, as the same person might face different restrictions depending on which government level employs them.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation scope and costs: Unclear whether "state employees" means all 70,000+ state workers or only appointed officials, and what compliance infrastructure would be required
  • Specificity of standards: The bill references municipal standards without detailing what those specific restrictions are, making it difficult to assess the actual burden on state workforce
  • Existing state ethics rules: Washington already has state ethics laws (WAC); this bill's relationship to existing rules and whether it strengthens, duplicates, or conflicts with them needs clarification

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

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