The bill aims to align the conflict of interest standards for state officers and employees with those required of municipal officers in Washington State. It highlights the constitutional obligation for legislators to disclose any private interests in proposed legislation and to recuse themselves from voting on such measures. The bill notes that prior to 2025, state officers and employees were held to similar ethical standards as municipal officers regarding beneficial interests in contracts. However, changes made in 2025 allowed state officers to hold up to 10 percent interest in entities with financial ties to the state, while municipal officers are limited to a one percent interest. This discrepancy is seen as undermining the ethical standards expected of legislators and state officials.

To address this issue, the bill amends RCW 42.52.010, specifically redefining "beneficial interest" to mean that an ownership interest of less than one percent in an entity does not constitute a beneficial interest. This change aims to ensure that state officers and employees are subject to the same stringent conflict of interest requirements as municipal officers, thereby promoting trust, openness, and honesty in government actions. The bill emphasizes the need for a consistent ethical framework across different levels of government to uphold public confidence in state governance.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 42.52.010