ESSB 5143 — Concerning the ethics in public service act.

What this bill does

Increases the gift threshold from $50 to $100 and excludes from the definition of gift the following: gift cards of $25 or less given to legislative employees and unsolicited gifts from legislators to legislative staff. Authorizes posts on a legislator's official website or social media account about generally recognized days or months of note; achievements, honors, or awards of extraordinary distinction relating to a constituent if the constituent consents to the post; and changes to office contact information during an election year freeze period. Removes costs from the combined $5,000 cap for penalties and costs and removes the prohibition on ordering costs that exceed the amount of penalties imposed. Removes provisions that specify that the following activities are included as activities that are part of the normal and regular conduct of the office or agency which are not considered a prohibited use of state resources for campaign purposes: communications directly pertaining to any legislative proposal which has been introduced, and posting information to a legislator's official legislative website or social media account about emergencies, federal holidays, state and legislatively recognized holidays, religious holidays, information originally provided by another government entity, and achievements, honors, or awards of extraordinary distinction.

From the Washington State Legislature's nonpartisan staff bill analysis. Read the full analysis ↗

Floor votes

• House — Final Passage as Amended by the House on Reconsideration · April 15, 2025
  70 yea · 26 nay · 2 not voting
• House — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 15, 2025
  78 yea · 18 nay · 2 not voting
• House — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 23, 2025
  58 yea · 39 nay · 1 not voting
• Senate — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 24, 2025
  45 yea · 1 nay · 2 not voting
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · March 10, 2025
  48 yea · 1 nay

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Other bills sponsored by Gildon

• ESSB 5294 — Transferring dedicated accounts for certain professional licenses to the business and professions account.
• SB 5315 — Standardizing notification provisions relating to local tax rate changes and shared taxes administered by the department.
• ESB 5529 — Amending the county population threshold for counties that may exempt from taxation the value of accessory dwelling units to incentivize rental to low-income households.
• SSB 5729 — Encouraging construction of affordable housing by streamlining the permitting process.
• SB 5764 — Repealing the expiration date for the ambulance transport fund.