SB 5143 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning the ethics in public service act.

Senate Bill 5143 updates Washington State's Ethics in Public Service Act, which governs the ethical conduct of state officers and employees across all branches of state government. The bill revises and clarifies various definitions within the act, such as modifying the definition of "beneficial interest" and removing the specific definition of "gift." It also introduces new definitions for terms like "charitable association," "ethics boards," and "official duty." These changes aim to refine the legal framework for ethical standards in public service.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was finalized and certified for the 2025 Regular Session. Substantively, it expanded the definition of permissible activities for legislators using state resources by adding new categories for posting content about legislative proposals and commemorating historical events. It also clarified that these expanded rules apply to 'legislative nexus' activities, while maintaining restrictions on official websites regarding ballot measures during election periods.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include specific new categories of permissible social media and website content for legislators, and it clarified the application of these rules to official legislative websites versus other government websites.
REQUIREMENT

Added new permissible activities for legislators to post on official websites or social media, specifically regarding legislative proposals and Washington state historical events.

Added a new clause clarifying that 'legislative nexus' activities are now covered under the ethics rules, with specific restrictions on referencing ballot measures during election periods.

DEFINITION

Modified the list of exempt activities to remove redundant text and integrate the new categories into the existing structure.

MODIFIED

Added standard certification of enrollment headers and signatures indicating the bill passed both chambers of the legislature.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025 · House Apr 15, 2025

How they voted

501
Passed
Total votes 51
Mar 10, 2025
D Democratic31
30 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
15
Committee
8
Amendments
1
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 45; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 2.
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments.
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Senate refuses to concur in House amendments. Asks House to recede from amendments.
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
SGOV - Majority; do pass.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 8:30 AM.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors