RCW 29B.15 — ELECTRONIC ACCESS | Revised Code of Washington — Washington

RCW 29B.15.010 Electronic filing — Availability. (Effective January 1, 2026.)

(1) For each required report, as technology permits, the commission shall make an electronic reporting tool available to all those who are required to file that report under this title. (2) All persons required to file reports under this title must file them electronically where the commission has provided an electronic option. The executive director may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for persons who lack the technological ability to file reports electronically. (3) If the electronic filing system provided by the commission is inoperable for any period of time, the commission must keep a record of the date and time of each instance and post outages on its website. If a report is due on a day the electronic filing system is inoperable, it is not late if filed the first business day the system is back in operation. The commission must provide notice to all reporting entities when the system is back in operation. (4) All persons required to file reports under this title shall, at the time of initial filing, provide the commission an email address, or other electronic contact information, that shall constitute the official address for purposes of all communications from the commission. The person required to file one or more reports must provide any new electronic contact information to the commission within 10 days, if the address has changed from that listed on the most recent report. Committees must provide the committee treasurer's electronic contact information to the commission. Committees must also provide any new electronic contact information for the committee's treasurer to the commission within 10 days of the change. The executive director may waive the electronic contact information requirement and allow use of a postal address, upon the showing of hardship. (1) For each required report, as technology permits, the commission shall make an electronic reporting tool available to all those who are required to file that report under this title. (2) All persons required to file reports under this title must file them electronically where the commission has provided an electronic option. The executive director may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis for persons who lack the technological ability to file reports electronically. (3) If the electronic filing system provided by the commission is inoperable for any period of time, the commission must keep a record of the date and time of each instance and post outages on its website. If a report is due on a day the electronic filing system is inoperable, it is not late if filed the first business day the system is back in operation. The commission must provide notice to all reporting entities when the system is back in operation. (4) All persons required to file reports under this title shall, at the time of initial filing, provide the commission an email address, or other electronic contact information, that shall constitute the official address for purposes of all communications from the commission. The person required to file one or more reports must provide any new electronic contact information to the commission within 10 days, if the address has changed from that listed on the most recent report. Committees must provide the committee treasurer's electronic contact information to the commission. Committees must also provide any new electronic contact information for the committee's treasurer to the commission within 10 days of the change. The executive director may waive the electronic contact information requirement and allow use of a postal address, upon the showing of hardship.

RCW 29B.15.020 Access to reports — Legislative intent. (Effective January 1, 2026.)

It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that the commission provide the general public timely access to all contribution and expenditure reports submitted by candidates, continuing political committees, bona fide political parties, lobbyists, and lobbyists' employers. The legislature finds that failure to meet goals for full and timely disclosure threatens to undermine our electoral process. Furthermore, the legislature intends for the commission to consult with Washington technology solutions as it seeks to implement chapter 401, Laws of 1999, and that the commission follow the standards and procedures established by Washington technology solutions in chapter 43.105 RCW as they relate to information technology. It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that the commission provide the general public timely access to all contribution and expenditure reports submitted by candidates, continuing political committees, bona fide political parties, lobbyists, and lobbyists' employers. The legislature finds that failure to meet goals for full and timely disclosure threatens to undermine our electoral process. Furthermore, the legislature intends for the commission to consult with Washington technology solutions as it seeks to implement chapter 401, Laws of 1999, and that the commission follow the standards and procedures established by Washington technology solutions in chapter 43.105 RCW as they relate to information technology.

RCW 29B.15.030 Access performance measures. (Effective January 1, 2026.)

By July 1st of each year, the commission shall calculate the following performance measures, provide a copy of the performance measures to the governor and appropriate legislative committees, and make the performance measures available to the public: (1) The average number of days that elapse between the commission's receipt of reports filed under RCW 29B.25.020 , 29B.25.070 , 29B.25.090 , 29B.25.120 , 29B.25.140 , 29B.50.010 , 29B.50.050 , 29B.50.070 , and 29B.50.080 and the time that the report, a copy of the report, or a copy of the data or information included in the report, is first accessible to the general public (a) in the commission's office, and (b) via the commission's website; (2) The percentage of filers pursuant to RCW 29B.15.010 who have used: (a) Hard copy paper format; or (b) electronic format. By July 1st of each year, the commission shall calculate the following performance measures, provide a copy of the performance measures to the governor and appropriate legislative committees, and make the performance measures available to the public: (1) The average number of days that elapse between the commission's receipt of reports filed under RCW 29B.25.020 , 29B.25.070 , 29B.25.090 , 29B.25.120 , 29B.25.140 , 29B.50.010 , 29B.50.050 , 29B.50.070 , and 29B.50.080 and the time that the report, a copy of the report, or a copy of the data or information included in the report, is first accessible to the general public (a) in the commission's office, and (b) via the commission's website; (2) The percentage of filers pursuant to RCW 29B.15.010 who have used: (a) Hard copy paper format; or (b) electronic format.