Concerning the use of campaign and surplus funds in responding to ethics complaints.

HB 2705 amends Washington state campaign finance laws to allow candidates and their committees to use surplus campaign funds for legal expenses related to ethics complaints, investigations, or hearings. Specifically, it permits holding surplus funds in a separate account to cover eligible legal fees incurred after January 1, 2025, such as those from investigations under Chapter 42.52 RCW or local ethics codes. Candidates must document these expenses and report them per existing campaign finance rules. This change clarifies that such disbursements do not count as campaign contributions.